Written Answers of 17 June 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Narayan Shankar
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the application by Narayan Shankar for political asylum, August 1989, ref. S670769.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I expect the decision to be taken soon and I will inform the hon. Member at that time.

  Wheel Clamps
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what instructions are issued to private companies authorised to clamp vehicles regarding any decision to fit a wheel clamp;

  (2) what information he has on the degree of liaison between the Metropolitan police and private companies authorised to clamp vehicles in respect of prioritising illegally parked vehicles.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Under section 104 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the decision to fit a wheel clamp to a vehicle may only be authorised by a police officer. Private companies are employed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to carry out the physical task of applying wheel clamps and their operatives act on the instructions of a police officer.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of those private companies authorised by the Metropolitan police to clamp vehicles on public roads.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as follows:Parking Protection Limited
  Highway Maintenance Service Limited

  United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet the general council of UKIAS.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I hope to meet members of the executive committee of UKIAS soon to discuss the organisation's future.

  Crime, North Yorkshire
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's letter of 5 June to the hon. Member for York about recorded crimes in North Yorkshire.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the average number of remand prisoners held in police cells in Cumbria over the last convenient period for each police station; how many police hours were spent looking after them; and at what cost to public funds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From 27 October 1991 to 25 January 1992, a daily average of 20 prisoners who normally would be held in prison were held in the following police stations in Cumbria:

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Carlisle

  Kendal

  Penrith

  Whitehaven

  Workington

  Information is not available centrally on the numbers held in individual police stations over this period. The available information does not separately identify the number of prisoners held on remand.

  During the same period, a total of 17,598 police hours were taken up with tasks relating to the custody and transport of prisoners who would normally be held in prison. The cost to the Prison Service of the police cells operation in Cumbria was £309,433.48.

  Feltham Remand Centre (Suicides)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent suicides at Feltham remand centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is already an active suicide prevention management group at Feltham. In addition, the governor recognises the widespread concern about recent deaths at the establishment and has chaired a special group to identify what more could be done.

  The group is taking forward a range of initiatives, including a review of induction procedures and of measures to curb the incidence of bullying. Staff have been given refresher training in suicide prevention and a training pack has been produced for future use. Case conferences are held each week to manage prisoners identified as being at risk. A prison visitor scheme has been set up to support those who do not receive regular visits. Links have been made with the local branch of the Samaritans. The establishment is also continuing to develop its policy of encouraging regular contact between prisoners and their families, particularly where there is concern about the prisoner's welfare. In addition, a new unit is to open on 22 June with specially trained staff whose role will be to work to modify the behaviour of known bullies. Video cameras are also being installed in trouble spots to help staff to identify bullies.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law to bring the provisions concerning manslaughter into line with the protection given to the pre born against abortion after 24 weeks and the Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  Although no suitable legislative vehicle is, at present, in prospect, we shall seek to amend the presumption in that Act to bring it into line with the
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  24-week limit now in the Abortion Act 1967 and with the Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992 when a suitable opportunity arises.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give further consideration to the points made in the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report on the London hospital medical college in October 1991; and if he will publish a full detailed response to each point.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The allegations in the BUAV's report were thoroughly investigated by the Home Office scientific procedures inspectorate and considered in detail by Home Office officials. A reply was sent to the general secretary of the BUAV on 17 March, and he has been invited to put any further specific questions to the Home Office in writing.

  Turkish Refugees
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meetings about the hunger strike by the Turkish/Kurdish/Aleri refugees in London; what evidence he has of the after-effects of torture of former Turkish refugees living in London; what information he has about the treatment of their wives and children; what representations he has received about this matter; and what representations he has made to the Turkish authorities.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 1 June we were informed that 54 of the original 62 hunger strikers had abandoned their protest. On 5 June we were informed that the remaining eight had taken the same step. Representations have been made in individual cases about the circumstances of Turkish refugees and asylum applicants with exceptional leave living in London and about their families remaining in Turkey. Applications for family reunion are considered in the light of the immigration rules and other published guidelines. My right hon. and learned Friend has had no contacts with the Turkish authorities on these matters.

  Asylum
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reduce the time before an asylum seeker given exceptional leave to remain may apply to bring in his family and immediate dependants from four years to three years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. The period of four years reflects the view that family reunion for someone with exceptional leave should not normally be allowed until it is apparent that his stay in the United Kingdom is likely to be permanent.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of asylum seekers for each month from January 1990 until the present date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information available is given in the table.522

  Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants

  1Number of principal applicants

  2 31990

  41991

  1992

  January

  4,455

  2,165

  February

  3,360

  3,445

  1,420

  March

  3,885

  1,595

  April

  5,275

  1,440

  May

  3,665

  3,805

  1,370

  June

  3,000

  5—

  July

  3,725

  5—

  August

  6,980

  3,340

  5—

  September

  3,525

  5—

  October

  4,375

  5—

  November

  8,005

  3,790

  5—

  December

  2,210

  5—

  22,000

  44,840

  5—

  1Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5.

  21990 figures may understate because of delays in recording. Reliable monthly estimates are not yet available.

  3In addition, about 55 applications by nationals of Afghanistan to the British High Commission in New Delhi were processed locally.

  4In addition, about 15 applications by nationals of Afghanistan to the British High Commission in New Delhi and 40 applications by nationals of Liberia to the British High Commission in Lagos were processed locally.

  5Not yet available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure greater uniformity in practice about what constitutes urgent and compassionate grounds for family reunion in the cases of asylum seekers seeking exceptional leave to remain.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Compelling and compassionate grounds are considered in the light of the circumstances in each individual case. I am satisfied that decisions in such cases are properly taken.

  Vandalism
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy to lessen vandalism in Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Vandalism in Wales is being most effectively addressed when organisations such as the Police, local authorities and other local agencies combine their efforts to develop practical preventive policies. It is such approaches which our policies seek to support.

  Squatting
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he plans to introduce legislation on the squatting of residential property before the end of the current year;

  (2) how many responses he has received to his consultation paper on squatting; whether he will list the name of each respondent; and whether he will state the number of respondents who were in favour or opposed to each of the four options consulted on.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The Government are committed to strengthening the law against squatting and last year a consultation paper was published setting out various proposals. The responses to

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  this exercise raised a number of issues which require and are receiving careful consideration. It is not possible at this stage to say when legislative proposals will be brought forward. The Government wish to ensure that any new measure should be fair, easy to administer and be effective.

  In all, we received 216 responses to the consultation paper. Analysis of the results shows that 133 responses—62 per cent.—were in favour of strengthening the law, 58–27 per cent.—were opposed, and 25–11 per cent.—came to no clear conclusion. However, those respondents opposed to strengthening the law can generally be taken to have supported option A—leaving the criminal law unchanged; six respondents favoured option B—a limited extension of the law to certain types of squatting; 17 favoured option C—extending the criminal law to all squatting in residential premises; and 56 supported option D—a general extension of the criminal law to cover squatting in any premises.

  Eighty four of the responses were from private individuals or companies, and we also received responses from the following public bodies, local authorities and organisation:

  The Association of District Councils

  The Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  The London Boroughs Association

  The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

  The London Borough of Brent

  The London Borough of Croydon

  The London Borough of Greenwich

  The London Borough of Hackney

  The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

  Newham Borough Council

  Tower Hamlets Borough Council

  Wandsworth Borough Council

  Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

  City of Bristol

  City of Carlisle

  Chester City Council

  Exeter City Council

  Swansea City Council

  Cheshire County Council

  Cumbria County Council

  Gwent County Council

  Oxfordshire County Council

  Ashford Borough Council

  Bournemouth Borough Council

  Borough of Broxborne

  Borough of Crewe and Nantwich

  Dacorum Borough Council

  Darlington Borough Council

  Daventry Borough Council

  Gillingham Borough Council

  Guildford Borough Council

  Hastings Borough Council

  Borough of Luton

  Medina Borough Council

  Newport Borough Council

  Scarborough Borough Council

  Spelthorne Borough Council

  Test Valley Borough Council

  Wallingford Borough Council

  Bridgenorth District Council

  Carrick District Council

  Fenland District Council

  Hinkley and Bosworth District Council

  Mid-Bedfordshire District Council

  North Dorset District Council

  North Kesteven District Council

  North Norfolk District Council

  North West Leicestershire District Council

  Penwith District Council

  Purbeck District Council

  Rother District Council

  South Cambridgeshire District Council

  524

  Vale of the White Horse District Council

  Anstey Parish Council

  Bagworth Parish Council

  Burbage Parish Council

  Carton Parish Council

  Growby Parish Council

  Nailstone Parish Council

  Shelter

  Squatters Action for Secure Homes (SQUASH)

  Homeless Occupiers Project

  Law Centres Federation

  South Manchester Law Centre

  Salford Law Centre

  National Federation of Housing Associations

  SHAC (The London Housing Aid Centre)

  Housing Centre Trust

  CHAS Housing Aid Centre (Huddersfield)

  Hyson Green Squatters Support Group

  Waterloo Action Centre

  Blackwater Valley Homeless Forum

  London Private Tenants Workers Group

  Direct Action Group Housing

  Housing Advice Response Unit

  Eastern Housing Advice Group

  Teenage Information Network

  Housing Law Practitioners Association

  Self-Help Community Housing Association Ltd. (Bristol).

  National Housing Law Service

  Action on Drugs, HIV and Homelessness

  Lambeth Self Help Housing Association Ltd.

  Lifeshare (Manchester)

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Department of Education and Science

  Department of Trade and Industry

  The Crown Estate

  The Lord Chancellor's Department

  The Crown Prosecution Service

  The Legal Secretariat to the Law Offices

  The Magistrates' Association

  The Association of Chief Police Officers

  The Metropolitan Police

  The Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales

  Office of the High Sheriff of the Counties of Greater London and Surrey

  The Justices' Clerks' Society

  The General Council of the Bar

  The Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate

  The Law Society

  Liberty

  Justice

  The Social and Liberal Democratic Lawyers Association

  The Institute of Legal Executives

  The National Association of Estate Agents

  The Property Managers Association

  The Confederation of British Industry

  The British Property Federation

  The Property Advisory Group

  The County Landowners Association

  The National Trust

  The Church Commissioners

  The Small Landlords Association

  The British Retail Consortium

  The Institute for Housing

  The Council of Mortgage Lenders

  The Institute of Rent Officers

  The Association of Tenancy Relations Officers

  The Newspaper Society

  The Association of British Insurers

  The Oxford Street Association

  The Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  South London Women's Centre

  Bournemouth Chamber of Commerce and Trade

  Newham Chamber of Commerce

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  525

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom

  National Union of Students

  Middlesex Polytechnic Students Union

  In addition, one petition was received from the New Horizon youth centre containing 332 signatures opposing any change in the law.

  Police
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of extra police posts that have been sought by each of the police authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The four Welsh police authorities have made applications for increases in establishment for 1993–94, as follows:

  Posts

  Dyfed-Powys

  75

  Gwent

  37

  North Wales

  58

  South Wales

  44

  Authorised Establishments

  Force

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Avon and Somerset

  3,050

  3,070

  3,081

  3,085

  3,087

  Bedfordshire

  1,030

  1,046

  1,085

  1,117

  1,178

  Cambridgeshire

  1,180

  1,198

  1,209

  1,231

  1,241

  Cheshire

  1,860

  1,868

  1,889

  1,900

  1,920

  Cleveland

  1,474

  1,489

  1,502

  1,502

  1,502

  Cumbria

  1,144

  1,156

  1,175

  1,183

  1,187

  Derbyshire

  1,793

  1,793

  1,812

  1,825

  1,850

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,827

  2,846

  2,865

  2,880

  2,928

  Dorset

  1,235

  1,257

  1,272

  1,287

  1,302

  Durham

  1,357

  1,375

  1,378

  1,389

  1,389

  Dyfed Powys

  935

  935

  944

  944

  969

  Essex

  2,762

  2,804

  2,875

  2,892

  2,950

  Gloucestershire

  1,164

  1,164

  1,164

  1,183

  1,184

  Greater Manchester

  6,943

  6,988

  7,021

  7,057

  7,077

  Gwent

  995

  1,007

  1,009

  1,009

  1,010

  Hampshire

  3,128

  3,148

  3,175

  3,202

  3,269

  Hertfordshire

  1,631

  1,651

  1,669

  1,680

  1,684

  Humberside

  1,972

  1,992

  2,007

  2,025

  2,034

  Kent

  2,941

  2,968

  3,020

  3,054

  13,096

  Lancashire

  3,158

  3,173

  3,203

  3,225

  3,229

  Leicestershire

  1,733

  1,760

  1,814

  1,827

  1,853

  Lincolnshire

  1,183

  1,183

  1,198

  1,206

  1,206

  Merseyside

  4,679

  4,701

  4,701

  4,706

  4,706

  Norfolk

  1,338

  1,362

  1,409

  1,421

  1,446

  Northamptonshire

  1,106

  1,121

  1,142

  1,167

  1,190

  Northumbria

  3,483

  3,514

  3,560

  3,586

  3,613

  North Wales

  1,326

  1,330

  1,352

  1,352

  1,369

  North Yorkshire

  1,368

  1,383

  1,408

  1,414

  1,418

  Nottinghamshire

  2,294

  2,318

  2,344

  2,344

  2,344

  South Wales

  3,109

  3,137

  3,168

  3,168

  3,168

  South Yorkshire

  2,951

  2,978

  2,998

  3,016

  3,031

  Staffordshire

  2,166

  2,188

  2,203

  2,211

  2,215

  South Wales

  3,109

  3,137

  3,168

  3,168

  3,168

  South Yorkshire

  2,951

  2,978

  2,998

  3,016

  3,031

  Staffordshire

  2,166

  2,188

  2,203

  2,211

  2,215

  Suffolk

  1,186

  1,186

  1,205

  1,216

  1,233

  Surrey

  1,639

  1,649

  1,659

  1,670

  1,673

  Sussex

  2,923

  2,940

  2,964

  2,982

  3,014

  Thames Valley

  3,576

  3,620

  3,685

  3,725

  3,812

  Warwickshire

  981

  992

  1,008

  1,016

  1,020

  West Mercia

  1,963

  1,991

  2,024

  2,024

  2,053

  West Midlands

  6,754

  6,830

  6,895

  6,958

  6,977

  West Yorkshire

  5,227

  5,259

  5,281

  5,295

  5,295

  Wiltshire

  1,074

  1,085

  1,099

  1,114

  1,181

  City of London

  798

  798

  798

  798

  798

  Metropolitan

  28,115

  28,415

  28,412

  28,322

  28,322

  1 The establishment of Kent will increase to 3,136 from 1 January 1993 when reimbursed posts for the Channel Tunnel are introduced.

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  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the established number of full-time officers in each of the police authorities in each of the past five years; and what measures he proposes to enable police authorities to place more policemen on the beat.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The authorised establishments for each police force in England and Wales for the period 1988–89 to 1992–93 are set out in the table.

  The Home Secretary attaches importance to increasing the numbers of officers on the beat, but recognises that this is one of many needs. Measures recommended to forces to improve operational deployment include civilianisation, which has enabled the release of 5,700 officers; streamlining of organisational structures; shedding unnecessary middle management; improvement of technical support; and the introduction of flexible shifts.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Children's Play and Recreation Unit
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to continue the developmental and strategic work done by the national children's play and recreation unit beyond the end of the unit's present guaranteed funding period on 31 March 1993.

  Mr. Mellor
  I am giving very careful consideration to what should happen when the national children's play and recreation unit's present funding comes to an end in March 1993 and I shall be announcing my conclusions at the earliest possible opportunity.

TRANSPORT

  Airline Failures
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to establish a scheme to give financial protection for consumers in the event of the financial failure of an airline.

  Mr. Norris
  My predecessor announced in a written answer on 11 March that he proposed to introduce a scheme providing financial protection for passengers who book tickets on United Kingdom airlines, on the basis of a compensation fund to be financed by a small levy on United Kingdom airlines.

  The Civil Aviation Authority has been asked to develop the details of a scheme, for which primary legislation will be needed, and it is currently working on proposals.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he has had with the International Air Transport Association agency programme joint council to discuss the concept of financial protection for airline passengers.

  Mr. Norris
  I myself have had no such meetings, but the Civil Aviation Authority's report on financial protection for scheduled passengers—CAP 595—published in August did take account of IATA's response to the consultation document issued by the authority and IATA's comments were recorded in the report.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking following his responses to the recommendations on aircraft noise prepared by the noise review working party 1990.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government's responses to the recommendations on aircraft noise of the noise review working party were published in August 1991 as part of the consultation paper "Control of Aircraft Noise." We are considering the responses to this paper and our decisions will be announced in due course.

  Rail Emergency
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the implication for contingency planning of the 528
  emergency which occurred between Hither Green and Grove Park stations on the evening of Tuesday 9 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that British Rail is holding an internal inquiry into the 9 June incident when an electrical sub station at Grove Park flooded and caused the track supply power to be cut off. British Rail is looking at how best to deal with similar electrical engineering difficulties in the future and also at what improvements can be made in keeping passengers better informed.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation under the citizens charter will be made to the passengers trapped for four hours on a train between Hither Green and Grove Park stations on 9 June.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under the passengers charter, with effect from January 1993, monthly and longer season ticket holders will be able to claim discounts when they renew their tickets if, during the preceding 12 months, performance has been more than a small margin below the standards set in the charter. The delays caused by the flooding of the electrical sub station at Grove Park on 9 June will be included in the performance statistics used for this purpose.

  Other ticket holders who were delayed can make claims immediately.

  London Transport Board
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of the London Transport Board with their functions and their remuneration.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is as follows:

  Member/Responsibilities

  Current annual salary £

  Executive Members

  Mr. Wilfrid Newton CBE

  106,500

  Chairman and Chief Executive of LT Board

  Chairman of:

  London Underground Ltd

  Corporate Strategy Group

  Executive Committee

  Design Policy Committee

  Mr. Anthony Sheppeck

  76,150

  Board Member for Finance

  Member of:

  Audit Committee

  Corporate Strategy Group

  Executive Committee

  London Transport Property

  Non-Executive Director:

  London Underground Ltd

  Non-Executive Members

  Sir Neil Shields MC

  28,000

  Deputy Chairman of LT

  Chairman of:

  LT Property Board

  Member of:

  Remuneration Committee

  Design Policy Committee

  Sir Alan Bailey

  8,790

  Board Member with special interest in passengers with disabilities

  529

  Member/Responsibilities

  Current annual salary £

  Mr. Keith Brown

  8,790

  Chairman of:

  Audit Committee

  Member of:

  Bus Privatisation Committee

  Mr. J. Keith Davies

  8,790

  Member of:

  Safety Audit Committee

  Dr. Stephen Glaister

  9,960

  Member of:

  Corporate Strategy Group

  Fares Revenue Committee

  Bus Privatisation Committee

  Tendered Bus Division

  Non-Executive Director:

  Victoria Coach Station

  Mrs. Helen Robinson

  8,790

  Member of:

  Design Policy Committee

  Remuneration Committee

  Mr. Oscar Roith

  29,290

  Board Member with special interest in safety

  Chairman of:

  Safety Audit Committee

  Mr. Roy Thomas

  8,790

  Member of:

  Audit Committee

  Remuneration Committee

  Bus Privatisation Committee

  Mr. David Thompson

  8,790

  Chairman of London Buses Ltd

  Member of:

  Audit Committee

  London Transport Property

  Total emoluments, including salaries, fees, pensions and other benefits received by members of the board are published each year in London Transport's annual report and accounts.

  Regional Airlines
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to take forward the recommendations of the Civil Aviation Authority that consideration be given to safeguarding slots at Heathrow for regional airlines within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The authority has made no such recommendation.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he had with professional railwaymen or their associates, or those of civil engineers, prior to drawing up his specification for the proposed London to Kent fast rail link; and what estimate he has made of the capital saving available from his specification compared to a three or four-line scheme, respectively.

  Mr. Freeman
  The paper "Channel Tunnel Rail Link: Design Standards Brief", circulated on 21 May 1992, was prepared after consultation with British Rail, which also took independent engineering advice. British Rail estimates that the additional cost of four tracks, compared 530
  to the proposal for a two-track line with a freight capability outlined in that paper, would be of the order of £2 billion. A three-track scheme is unlikely to have much practical advantage over two tracks with passing loops, and no cost estimates have been made of that option.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, as part of his plans for privatisation and deregulation of the buses in London he will prohibit London Buses Ltd. or any of its subsidiary companies from disposing of property that could be a major asset to any future competitor.

  Mr. Norris
  No.

  Pollution
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce the levels of pollution which are currently forecast to result from the increase in road traffic.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Government are to introduce into United Kingdom law two new EC directives prescribing stricter limits on emissions of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter from motor vehicles. Both directives will help to put the United Kingdom and its EC partners on a course for substantial longer-term progress in improving the quality of air in our towns and cities. The United Kingdom is also working with other member states with a view to limiting emissions of carbon dioxide from motor vehicles.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Appeal Tribunal
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what budget exists for independent legal representation for the immigration appeal tribunal; and how many independent solicitors have been retained by the IAT in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There is no separate budget for legal representation for the immigration appeal tribunal, IAT; any such fees are paid out of the general budget for the Lord Chancellor's Department. The IAT has been represented by the Treasury Solicitor when representation has been necessary in the last three years.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show in league order the income tax thresholds in each member state of the European Community with the lowest at the end.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates based on the latest available information are given in the table. Unless otherwise stated the figures relate to 1992.

  The threshold is the amount of gross income below which no tax is payable.

  Thresholds given relate to a single person, and to income from employment only. Standard deductions available to all employees have been taken into account.
  531
  Using the exchange rates published in the Financial Times on 16 June 1992 the league order is as follows:

  Country

  Threshold £

  France

  6,445

  Luxembourg

  5,739

  Spain

  4,294

  Belgium

  4,190

  Greece

  3,752

  United Kingdom

  3,445

  Italy

  3,421

  Germany

  3,244

  Ireland

  3,206

  Denmark

  2,895

  Portugal

  2,167

  Netherlands

  1,461

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in pounds sterling how much would be deducted in income tax from(a) a single person and (b) a married couple if their overall income was equivalent to (i) £100 per week, and (ii) £200 per week in each member state of the European Community.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates based on the latest available information are given in the table. Unless otherwise stated, the figures relate to 1992.

  All amounts given in the table relate to weekly income and tax due and to income from employment only. For married couples it has been assumed that only one spouse is in employment and that the couple have no children.

  Social security contributions are not included in the table, but have been taken into account in calculating tax due where there is tax relief for such contributions. In some countries, social security contributions will be much

  Income Tax, NICs and indirect Tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1978–79—percentages of gross earnings

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0.5 Per cent.

  1 Per cent.

  1.5 Per cent.

  2 Per cent.

  5 Per cent.

  10 Per cent.

  (a) Single person

  Income Tax

  17.0

  25.0

  27.7

  29.5

  50.5

  66.6

  NICs

  6.5

  6.5

  5.6

  4.2

  1.7

  0.8

  Total income tax and NICs

  23.6

  31.5

  33.3

  33.7

  52.2

  67.5

  VAT

  —

  2.7

  2.8

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8.2

  7.5

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Domestic Rates

  —

  42.5

  43.7

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic Rates

  —

  3.1

  2.8

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  45.6

  46.5

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Married couple, both partners working

  Income Tax

  0.0

  13.3

  19.9

  23.1

  33.5

  50.9

  NICs

  6.5

  6.5

  6.5

  6.5

  3.4

  1.7

  Total income tax and NICs

  6.5

  19.8

  26.4

  29.6

  36.8

  52.6

  VAT

  —

  3.1

  3.1

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  10.4

  8.7

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Domestic Rates

  —

  33.2

  38.2

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic Rates

  —

  3.4

  2.5

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  36.6

  40.7

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Married couple, one partner working

  Income Tax

  9.5

  21.3

  25.2

  27.2

  48.8

  65.7

  NICs

  6.5

  6.5

  5.6

  4.2

  1.7

  0.8

  Total income tax and NICs

  16.0

  27.8

  30.8

  31.4

  50.5

  66.5

  VAT

  —

  2.6

  2.8

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9.3

  8.3

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Domestic Rates

  —

  39.7

  41.9

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic Rates

  —

  3.0

  2.5

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  42.6

  44.4

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Married couple with two children, one partner working

  Income Tax

  -4.1

  14.4

  20.6

  23.7

  47.1

  64.8

  NICs

  6.5

  6.5

  5.6

  4.2

  1.7

  0.8

  Total income tax and NICs

  2.5

  20.9

  26.2

  27.9

  48.8

  65.6

  532
  more significant than income tax for people at these levels of earnings. Using the exchange rates published in the Financial Times on 16 June 1992 the information is as follows:

  Tax due on earnings (£/week)

  weekly earnings

  Country

  Single person

  Married couple

  £100

  £200

  £100

  £200

  Belgium

  7.31

  47.88

  3.62

  28.63

  Denmark

  48.40

  122.82

  23.44

  97.86

  France

  nil

  19.95

  nil

  7.74

  Germany

  10.59

  9.24

  3.26

  6.35

  Greece

  nil

  2.37

  nil

  0.81

  Ireland

  14.27

  50.06

  nil

  33.72

  Italy

  6.57

  34.17

  0.30

  27.91

  Luxembourg

  nil

  17.56

  nil

  2.32

  Netherlands

  11.65

  26.28

  7.67

  22.31

  Portugal

  1.53

  5.27

  0.46

  4.19

  Spain

  2.18

  26.02

  nil

  15.99

  United Kingdom

  6.75

  31.51

  0.13

  23.25

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the direct and indirect tax burden in 1978–79 and in 1992–93 as a proportion of gross earnings for(a) a single person, (b) a married couple both working, (c) a married couple with one partner working, (d) a married couple with two children, one partner working and (e) a married couple with two children, both working at 50 per cent., 100 per cent., 150 per cent., 200 per cent., 500 per cent. and 1,000 per cent. of earnings.

  Mr. Dorrel
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The requested figures for 1978–79 and latest estimates for 1992–93 are given in the table.
  533

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0.5 Per cent.

  1 Per cent.

  1.5 Per cent.

  2 Per cent.

  5 Per cent.

  10 Per cent.

  VAT

  —

  2.7

  2.7

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8.7

  7.3

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Domestic Rates

  —

  32.2

  36.2

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic Rates

  —

  3.0

  2.7

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  35.3

  38.9

  —

  —

  —

  (e) Married couple with two children, both partners working

  Income Tax

  -11.1

  6.4

  15.3

  19.7

  31.9

  50.0

  NICs

  6.5

  6.5

  6.5

  6.5

  3.4

  1.7

  Total income tax and NICs

  -4.6

  12.9

  21.8

  26.2

  35.2

  51.7

  VAT

  —

  3.4

  3.4

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  11.0

  9.1

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Domestic Rates

  —

  27.3

  34.3

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic Rates

  —

  3.5

  2.6

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  30.8

  36.9

  —

  —

  —

  Income Tax, NICs and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1992–93—percentages of gross earnings

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0.5 Per cent.

  1 Per cent.

  1.5 Per cent.

  2 Per cent.

  5 Per cent.

  10 Per cent.

  (a) Single person

  Income Tax

  14.5

  19.7

  21.6

  26.2

  34.5

  37.2

  NICs

  6.8

  7.9

  6.2

  4.7

  1.9

  0.9

  Total income tax and NICs

  21.3

  27.7

  27.9

  30.9

  36.4

  38.2

  VAT

  —

  5.8

  6.0

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  6.9

  6.5

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Community Charge

  —

  40.4

  40.3

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Married couple, both partners working

  Income Tax

  1.1

  12.1

  16.4

  18.6

  28.2

  34.1

  NICs

  4.7

  6.8

  7.6

  7.7

  3.7

  1.9

  Total income tax and NICs

  5.8

  19.0

  24.0

  26.3

  32.0

  36.0

  VAT

  —

  6.4

  6.6

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8.3

  7.1

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Community Charge

  —

  33.7

  37.7

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Married couple, one partner working

  Income Tax

  9.8

  17.4

  19.9

  24.3

  33.7

  36.9

  NICs

  6.8

  7.9

  6.2

  4.7

  1.9

  0.9

  Total income tax and NICs

  16.6

  25.3

  26.1

  29.0

  35.6

  37.8

  VAT

  —

  5.6

  6.1

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7.6

  7.0

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Community Charge

  —

  38.5

  39.2

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Married couple with two children, one partner working

  Income Tax

  -0.1

  12.4

  16.6

  21.9

  32.7

  36.4

  NICs

  6.8

  7.9

  6.2

  4.7

  1.9

  0.9

  Total income tax and NICs

  6.7

  20.4

  22.8

  26.5

  34.6

  37.3

  VAT

  —

  5.8

  6.5

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7.2

  6.3

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Community Charge

  —

  33.4

  35.7

  —

  —

  —

  (e) Married couple with two children, both partners working

  Income Tax

  -8.8

  7.2

  13.1

  16.1

  27.2

  33.6

  NICs

  4.7

  6.8

  7.6

  7.7

  3.7

  1.9

  Total income tax and NICs

  -4.1

  14.0

  20.7

  23.8

  31.0

  35.5

  VAT

  —

  6.9

  6.9

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8.7

  7.3

  —

  —

  —

  Total excluding Community Charge

  —

  29.6

  34.9

  —

  —

  —

  Notes to Tables
  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay class 1 NI contributions at the contracted-in rate.
  2. Since 1990–91, husbands and wives have been taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years, the table therefore shows income tax and national insurance contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.
  534
  3. In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couples with two children. The figures for 1978–79 assume that both children are aged younger than 11 years.
  4. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £329.90 per week in 1991–92 and £351.40 per week in 1992–93, using the Government Actuary's Department's assumption of 6½ per cent. growth in whole economy underlying earnings over 1991–92.
  5. The estimates of indirect taxes are based on equations derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey, uprated to

  535
  later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. They are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range, the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variations, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from family expenditure surveys for different years. 6. It has not been possible to make satisfactory estimates of the burden of the 1992–93 community charge in the absence of sample survey results, which would enable actual payments net of adjustments arising from the community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit to be related to earnings.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in taxation per individual arising from each relevant component of the 1992 Budget, both at current prices and net of indexation, for those at one half and three-quarters of average earnings, average earnings, and one-and-a-half, two, five and 10 times average earnings; and if he will provide comparable figures for each budget since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: Individuals will be affected directly or indirectly by most Budget measures. Changes in individual tax burdens will depend not simply on the level of income of the individual in question but also on their specific circumstances. It is therefore not possible to provide an assessment of the impact of the measures contained in the 1992 Budget, or in previous Budgets, in the form requested.

  Vehicle Tax
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage increases in vehicle excise duty on(a) motorcycles under 250 cc, (b) motorcycles over 250 cc and (c) cars in each of the past five years, and the average income from fuel duty by (i) motorcycles and (ii) private cars expressed as a percentage of the vehicle excise duty payable; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The real percentage increases in vehicle excise duty applied in each of the last five budgets are shown in the table. It is estimated that the average amount of duty paid on fuel consumed by a motorcycle in 1992–93, is about 225 per cent. of the applicable rate of vehicle excise duty. The corresponding estimate for cars and light goods vehicles is 340 per cent. Estimates for private cars are not separately available.

  Annual percentage increase in VED rate for:

  Motorcycles under 250 cc

  Motorcycles over 250cc

  Cars

  1988–89

  0

  0

  0

  1989–90

  0

  0

  0

  1990–91

  0

  0

  0

  1991–92

  50

  25

  0

  1992–93

  0

  0

  10

  Inflation
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Britain's retail price inflation rate; and what is the EC average.

  Mr. Nelson
  The inflation rate in the United Kingdom, as measured by the retail prices index compared with a536
  year earlier, stood at 4.3 per cent. in May this year. The corresponding figure for the EC in April, the latest month for which information is available, was provisionally 4.8 per cent.

  Labour Costs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he expects labour costs to adjust, within the framework of the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Nelson
  Membership of the exchange rate mechanism will contribute to achieving the Government's objective of defeating inflation on a lasting basis. Within this framework the growth of United Kingdom unit labour costs is forecast to continue to fall as nominal earnings growth slows and productivity picks up.

  Premium Bonds
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will supply figures for the number of purchases of premium bonds for each calendar year since 1979.

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of purchases of premium bonds, for each calendar year from 1979 to date, has been as follows:

  Year

  (000s)

  1979

  4,463.1

  1980

  4,103.1

  1981

  3,674.1

  1982

  3,298.3

  1983

  3,499.5

  1984

  3,328.6

  1985

  2,530.0

  1986

  1,949.8

  1987

  1,962.0

  1988

  2,036.7

  1989

  1,418.0

  1990

  639.5

  1991

  727.4

  1992

  1391.7

  1 January to May: provisional.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority unemployment levels take within the economic strategies of the Government.

  Mr. Nelson
  The object of the Government's economic strategy is to secure permanently low inflation and a healthy supply side. This is the only way to ensure sustained increases in employment.

  Financial Regulation
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the regulations which govern the publication of reports by the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulatory bodies; and if he will make a statement on policy regarding publication.

  Mr. Nelson
  The publication by the SIB and the self regulating organisations of reports is a matter for the bodies concerned. My officials are discussing with the SIB the scope of its ability to publish reports within the powers transferred to it under the Financial Services Act.

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the executive agencies that have sought Treasury approval for the introduction of an agency-specific pay system, separate to the national civil service structure.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The following executive agencies have had approval to introduce a specific pay system for some or all of their staff:

  Agricultural Development Advisory Service

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  Royal Mint

  A number of other agencies are considering changes to their pay and grading systems.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those executive agencies that operate for which the Treasury has approved a group bonus scheme.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The following executive agencies operate a group bonus scheme:

  Central Office of Information

  Companies House

  Directorate—General of Defence Accounts

  Driving Standards Agency

  Forensic Science Service

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  Meteorological Office

  Radiocommunications Agency

  Royal Mint

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  Cost of mortgage interest relief (£million)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–911

  1991–921 2

  Northern

  60

  80

  70

  95

  100

  140

  180

  200

  210

  250

  310

  350

  310

  Yorkshire

  110

  155

  150

  160

  210

  260

  340

  350

  360

  370

  460

  510

  450

  North West

  135

  200

  180

  215

  260

  330

  440

  490

  510

  530

  690

  770

  640

  East Midlands

  85

  115

  110

  130

  180

  230

  300

  320

  330

  340

  430

  480

  410

  West Midlands

  145

  160

  190

  170

  230

  280

  370

  350

  360

  430

  550

  620

  510

  East Anglia

  45

  50

  60

  75

  90

  130

  170

  170

  180

  220

  270

  300

  250

  Greater London

  235

  280

  290

  260

  400

  500

  670

  620

  650

  780

  980

  1,100

  710

  Other South East

  375

  555

  600

  650

  740

  950

  1,270

  1,220

  1,260

  1,350

  1,750

  1,940

  1,510

  South West

  110

  140

  170

  140

  230

  300

  400

  380

  400

  520

  660

  730

  570

  England

  1,300

  1,735

  1,820

  1,900

  2,440

  3,120

  4,140

  4,100

  4,260

  4,790

  6,100

  6,800

  5,360

  Wales

  45

  65

  80

  80

  110

  150

  200

  210

  220

  180

  240

  270

  230

  Scotland

  85

  125

  120

  140

  190

  260

  350

  300

  310

  370

  470

  530

  420

  Northern Ireland

  20

  35

  30

  30

  40

  50

  60

  60

  60

  60

  90

  100

  90

  United Kingdom

  1,450

  1,960

  2,050

  2,150

  2,780

  3,580

  4,750

  4,670

  4,850

  5,400

  6,900

  7,700

  6,100

  1 Provisional.

  2 Higher rate relief was abolished in 1991–92.

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the total public expenditure on(a) total social services (b) education (c) housing (d) social security and (e) care services expressed (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of gross domestic product for each year since 1975.

  General government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product, by function 1978–79 to 1991–921

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimated Outturn

  Defence

  4.4

  4.5

  4.8

  4.9

  5.1

  5.1

  5.3

  5.0

  4.7

  4.4

  4.0

  4.0

  3.9

  3.9

  Overseas services, including overseas aid

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  0.6

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry

  0.6

  0.6

  0.7

  0.6

  0.8

  0.8

  0.7

  0.8

  0.6

  0.6

  0.5

  0.4

  0.5

  0.5

  Maxwell Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation report into the Maxwell affair as soon as he receives it and on any consequential changes that may be required to the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  I shall study IMRO's review and the SIB's assessment of it carefully and consider whether any changes in the Financial Services Act regime are needed.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of providing mortgage interest tax relief for each year since 1979 inclusive for(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) the English regions and (f) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is given in the table. Estimates of the regional distribution of mortgage interest for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83 have been derived from the results of the survey of personal incomes. However, following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, regional information cannot be extracted from Inland Revenue records. Broad estimates for the years 1983–84 to 1991–92 have accordingly been based on analyses of the family expenditure surveys for the years concerned.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on general Government expenditure by function in the period 1978–79 to 1991–92 in cash terms is given in table 2.2 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement", Cm. 1920. This information is shown as a percentage of gross domestic product in the table. Corresponding data for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis.
  539

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimated outturn

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  2.4

  2.0

  2.1

  2.4

  2.9

  2.4

  2.5

  2.3

  2.2

  1.6

  1.7

  1.5

  1.3

  1.2

  Of which: Employment and training

  0.6

  0.6

  0.8

  0.9

  0.8

  0.9

  0.9

  0.8

  0.9

  0.8

  0.7

  0.6

  0.5

  0.5

  Transport

  1.8

  1.8

  1.8

  1.9

  1.9

  1.8

  1.7

  1.6

  1.5

  1.4

  1.2

  1.3

  1.4

  1.7

  Housing

  2.7

  2.8

  2.4

  1.7

  1.4

  1.5

  1.4

  1.2

  1.1

  1.0

  0.7

  1.0

  0.9

  1.0

  Other environmental services

  1.4

  1.5

  1.5

  1.4

  1.5

  1.4

  1.2

  1.2

  1.3

  1.2

  1.1

  1.2

  1.3

  1.4

  Law, order and protective services

  1.5

  1.6

  1.7

  1.8

  1.8

  1.8

  1.9

  1.8

  1.8

  1.9

  1.9

  2.0

  2.1

  2.2

  Education and science

  5.7

  5.5

  5.9

  5.8

  5.7

  5.5

  5.4

  5.1

  5.2

  5.1

  5.0

  5.1

  5.1

  5.3

  Arts and libraries

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  Health and personal social services

  5.4

  5.4

  6.0

  6.2

  6.1

  6.0

  6.0

  5.8

  5.8

  5.8

  5.7

  5.7

  6.0

  6.4

  Of which: Health

  4.6

  4.6

  5.1

  5.3

  5.2

  5.1

  5.1

  5.0

  4.9

  4.9

  4.8

  4.8

  5.0

  5.4

  Social security

  9.9

  9.8

  10.4

  11.5

  11.9

  12.1

  12.2

  12.2

  12.2

  11.5

  10.6

  10.3

  10.6

  11.9

  Miscellaneous expenditure2

  1.6

  1.5

  1.2

  1.3

  1.4

  1.2

  1.3

  1.1

  1.2

  1.3

  1.1

  1.4

  1.3

  1.1

  Total expenditure on services

  38.3

  37.7

  39.3

  40.3

  41.4

  40.4

  40.4

  38.9

  38.2

  36.4

  34.2

  34.8

  35.3

  37.4

  Privatisation proceeds

  —

  -0.2

  -0.1

  -0.2

  -0.2

  -0.4

  -0.6

  -0.8

  -1.2

  -1.2

  -1.5

  -0.8

  -1.0

  -1.4

  General government gross debt interest

  4.3

  4.6

  4.9

  5.2

  4.9

  4.8

  4.9

  4.9

  4.6

  4.2

  3.9

  3.6

  3.3

  2.9

  Other accounting adjustments

  1.4

  1.8

  2.4

  1.7

  1.2

  1.5

  1.6

  1.4

  1.3

  1.4

  1.4

  1.4

  1.5

  1.4

  Adjustment3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.1

  General government expenditure

  44.0

  43.9

  46.5

  47.0

  47.3

  46.2

  46.3

  44.4

  42.9

  40.8

  38.0

  39.1

  39.1

  40.5

  1 Using GDP figures adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  2 Includes contributions to the European Communities and activities required for the general maintenance of government, such as tax collection, and the registration of population.

  3 Difference between Treasury's overall assessment of outturn and sum of department's own estimates.

  Relocation
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants, and in which Departments, he believes could be relocated to provincial centres as part of the policy of devolving and decentralising Government Departments.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government's relocation policy is not centrally directed. Relocation decisions are a matter for individual departmental Ministers. Departments are continuing to review the location of their work in the light of their own particular circumstances and operational requirements in accordance with clear guidelines, a copy of which was placed in the House of Commons Library in December 1991.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government intends to continue its previous policy of devolving Government Departments to provincial centres.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Yes. There are often substantial advantages to be gained from relocating offices away from London and the south-east. The Government's relocation policy is therefore to pursue the relocation of Government work where that provides best value for money.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce value added tax on the sale of second-hand goods in charity shops; whether the seventh European Commission directive on value added tax applies to goods which are being resold for charitable purposes; and what estimates have been made of(a) the gain to the Exchequer and (b) the loss to charitable income of levying value added tax on goods sold in charity shops after 1996.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: We have no such plans and so no financial effects are anticipated. In principle the draft seventh VAT directive, if adopted as at present drafted, would apply to donated second-hand
  540
  goods being sold for charitable purposes from 1993. But these are zero-rated in the United Kingdom and our zero rates are already fully safeguarded until at least 1997 under the sixth VAT directive. Decisions on tax matters within the EC require unanimity and there is no question of the United Kingdom being forced to accept unwelcome proposals to end zero-rating after that.

EDUCATION

  Higher Education
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to introduce a quality audit for institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Forman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 9 June 1992,Official Report, columns 88–89.

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the maximum salary payable, including perfomance-related element, and the length of time of the contract of the chief executive of the Teachers' Pensions Agency.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1992–93, the chief executive of the Teachers' Pensions Agency will be able to earn up to £43,470 including performance pay. The chief executive's contract is for five years.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Teachers' Pensions Agency as an agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent Department or the new agency.

  Mr. Forth
  The cost of the launch and associated publicity was £20,000. A total of £17,000 was borne by the Department and the remaining £3,000 by the agency.
  541
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the Teachers' Pensions Agency; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

  Mr. Forth
  The chief executive of the Teachers' Pensions Agency gained a first degree in botany from the university of Manchester.

  Personal Records
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what conclusions he has reached on the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Graham Gaskin for people seeking access to personal records for which he has responsibility and what action he intends to take.

  Mr. Forth
  The consultation document issued by the Department of Health on the implications of the Graham Gaskin judgment took the view that the application of the judgment should be restricted to social services records. Some of the responses queried this interpretation. We are therefore considering whether there are any implications for educational records.

  Class Sizes
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his assessment of the maximum size of class in which the national curriculum can be satisfactorily delivered.

  Mr. Forth
  It is for schools to determine the appropriate size of teaching groups for different subjects in the light of their individual circumstances. The most important thing, however, is the quality of the teaching which pupils receive.

  Technology Schools Initiative
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to direct further resources towards the technology schools initiative network of schools; what are the differences in the criteria met by those schools from those of city technology colleges and whether the TSI network of schools will be given the opportunity to became full city technology colleges;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the Government's future support towards recently designated technology schools within the technology schools initiative; and what steps these schools themselves can take to ensure that support.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have announced capital allocations totalling £25 million in 1992–93 to support the technology teaching plans of 100 schools selected as a result of competitive bidding. These schools retain their existing status as grant-maintained, voluntary-aided, county or voluntary-controlled schools; in this respect they differ from city technology colleges established under the Education Reform Act (1988). The Government plan to expand and develop the network of schools supported by the technology schools initiative in future years.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if the technology schools initiative provision for the Southampton area is to be maintained; and what is the financial commitment for 1992–93.
  542
  Mr. Forth
  The following school in the Southampton area was selected for support under the technology schools initiative in 1992–93.

  Applemore School—£250,000 allocation.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps a local education authority school would need to take to achieve levels of provision equal to those of city technology colleges; how many of the existing TSI schools operate within the local education authority system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Of the 100 schools selected for capital support in 1992–93 under the technology schools initiative, 70 are maintained by local education authorities of which eight are voluntary aided schools. The recurrent funding of these schools is unaltered by their selection within the technology schools initiative. The funding of city technology colleges is determined separately.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide details of the financial implications of a primary school with 360 full-time five to 11-year-old pupils and 39 full-time equivalent three to four-year-old nursery pupils opting for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Forth
  The main recurrent grant for GM schools is annual maintenance grant—AMG—which is calculated with reference to the local management of schools scheme of the former maintaining LEA. This is set for GM schools in most LEAs at 15 per cent. above their LMS entitlement. This standard cash addition helps meet the cost of services previously provided free by the LEA. There is also a smaller addition related to school meal subsidy levels in that LEA. Calculation of AMG in respect of nursery pupils depends upon the relevant LEA's funding arrangements for such pupils.

  GM schools are also eligible to receive other grants as follows:

  i. Transitional grants to help meet the transitional costs of schools newly approved for GM status—in 1992–93 primary schools with more than 200 pupils can receive £30,000 plus £30 per pupil, to a maximum of £60,000.

  ii. Special Purpose Grants to help with a variety of activities. For example the SPG for "development" helps fund in-service training and implementation of the National Curriculum and assessment, for which LEAs are funded via the GEST programme. This SPG is paid at a flat rate of £42.50 per pupil with a £5,000 minimum. Other SPGs are available to help with VAT, staff restructuring and premises insurance.

  iii. There are two types of capital grant available to GM schools: a formula allocation for the purchase of equipment or small scale capital works; and project allocations for specific capital work. GM schools bid for project allocations and bids are considered in competition.

PRIME MINISTER

  Prosecuting Authorities (Representations)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will outline his policy concerning representations to be made by individual Departments to the prosecuting authorities while considering evidence against individuals in cases concerning their Departments.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The prosecuting authorities for which I am responsible as Attorney-General apply a dual test when considering

  543
  any prosecution. First there must be a sufficiency of evidence. Secondly, a prosecution must be required in the public interest.

  In 1951 my predecessor then Sir Hartley Shawcross gave an authoritative explanation of the duty of the prosecutor in relation to the second test. That explanation referred to the duty of the Attorney-General when considering whether to authorise a prosecution but the principles are of general application. Briefly, it is the duty of the prosecuting authority, where appropriate in consultation with the Law Officers of the Crown, to acquaint itself with all the relevant facts, including, for instance, the effect which the prosecution, successful or unsuccessful as the case may be, would have upon public morale and order, and with any other consideration affecting public policy. Such consultations may, where appropriate, include Ministers and Government Departments. The assistance of those consulted is confined to informing the prosecuting authority or the Law Officers of particular considerations that might affect the prosecution decision, and does not consist, and must not consist, in telling it or them what the decision ought to be. Responsibility for the eventual decision does not rest with those making representations as to the public interest but with the independent prosecuting authorities.

  Where a Department believes that it has information material to a prosecution decision it should so inform the prosecutor either directly or, where appropriate, through the Law Officers.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of shipping his official car from British Guyana to Rio de Janeiro for use during his visit to the Earth summit; how much was spent on re-equipping the car for this visit; and what attempts were made to seek appropriate vehicles in Brazil prior to deciding to import the car from Georgetown.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The cost of shipping a protected vehicle from Guyana to Rio de Janeiro for my use during the Earth summit was £2,400. The vehicle is used by our diplomatic missions in south and central America as the situation so requires. The cost of necessary repairs to the car amounted to about £15,000. No suitable vehicles were available in Brazil at the same or lower cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Skopje
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's current policy in EC discussions concerning the naming of the Republic of Skopje.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We hope that EC partners can soon find a common position which will allow recognition of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

  Iraq
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the safety of the Kurds in northern Iraq and the Shias in southern Iraq and the Marshlands in the last three months.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We remain concerned about the plight of the civilian population in the whole of Iraq and in particular about recent reports of increased military attacks on civilians in the southern marshes.
  On 4 June the Governments of France, the United States and the United Kingdom told the Iraqi Government that they should cease repressive actions against all the peoples of Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 688.

  We are determined to keep up the pressure on Iraq to meet all its obligations under Security Council resolutions.

  Antarctic Treaty
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 86, if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation on the environment protocol of the Antarctic treaty before the end of July.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We wish to introduce legislation as soon as possible to enact the provisions of the environmental protocol. It will unfortunately not be feasible to do so before the end of July.

  Ceremonial Dress
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 63, if he will specify in each case the items of ceremonial dress for which expenditure was incurred.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Ceremonial dress normally consists of a uniform, a hat, boots and a sword.

WALES

  Learning Disabilities
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been allocated in joint finance money to the health service in Wales; and what proportion has been spent on projects for people with learning disabilities.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A total of £1.8 million has been allocated in 1992–93 to projects in Wales under the joint finance scheme. A detailed breakdown of this amount, to identify the sum allocated to projects related to people with a mental handicap, could be made only at disproportionate cost. However, the main support for developing services for people with a mental handicap is the all-Wales mental handicap strategy, under which £41.5 million has been allocated in 1992–93.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".
  545
  Mr. David Hunt
  The programme has yet to be finalised. An announcement will be made shortly.

  Ysgol Derwyn School
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Ysgol Derwyn CP school, Clwyd; and if he will meet(a) the staff and governors and (b) the parent teacher association of the school.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans at present to do so.

  Numbers of Persons in Households Accepted as Homeless

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  21987

  1988

  1989

  31990

  1991

  Aberconwy

  151

  203

  159

  130

  99

  167

  74

  153

  177

  108

  162

  137

  104

  Alyn and Deeside

  301

  250

  205

  237

  251

  239

  427

  366

  330

  485

  528

  474

  499

  Arfon

  80

  59

  51

  55

  61

  38

  62

  51

  102

  63

  65

  77

  93

  Blaenau Gwent

  333

  361

  388

  464

  459

  454

  447

  489

  463

  595

  695

  841

  761

  Brecknock

  69

  114

  86

  160

  152

  134

  217

  162

  180

  176

  243

  269

  318

  Cardiff

  690

  1,410

  973

  1,053

  730

  862

  1,646

  1,751

  1,592

  2,971

  3,334

  2,483

  4,052

  Carmarthen

  187

  160

  152

  127

  192

  138

  218

  165

  255

  213

  164

  189

  227

  Ceredigion

  94

  102

  92

  103

  149

  203

  149

  140

  188

  187

  180

  331

  373

  Colwyn (b)

  55

  40

  42

  72

  55

  60

  71

  102

  104

  87

  93

  103

  178

  Cynon Valley

  898

  1,018

  965

  985

  1,207

  959

  840

  942

  603

  710

  530

  623

  1,017

  Delyn

  175

  151

  264

  240

  197

  255

  297

  391

  712

  679

  1,002

  825

  683

  Dinefwr

  49

  34

  35

  108

  31

  67

  104

  93

  141

  185

  124

  181

  410

  Dwyfor

  138

  60

  106

  74

  69

  124

  126

  142

  163

  119

  178

  162

  127

  Glyndwr

  56

  54

  63

  39

  37

  52

  64

  55

  63

  30

  43

  46

  87

  Islwyn

  189

  175

  159

  68

  118

  143

  142

  139

  121

  204

  313

  370

  399

  Llanelli

  133

  100

  140

  179

  219

  213

  227

  371

  408

  302

  343

  297

  383

  Lliw Valley

  113

  129

  134

  140

  119

  204

  158

  205

  254

  143

  288

  338

  284

  Melrionnydd

  369

  489

  235

  145

  159

  106

  106

  147

  137

  210

  230

  250

  257

  Merthyr Tydfil

  454

  392

  272

  238

  253

  232

  225

  179

  207

  191

  359

  496

  365

  Monmouth

  515

  380

  532

  437

  475

  447

  717

  664

  618

  576

  357

  281

  388

  Montgomeryshire

  124

  110

  125

  89

  83

  58

  52

  97

  100

  156

  127

  188

  259

  Neath

  481

  483

  624

  —

  1,016

  965

  806

  793

  629

  636

  496

  610

  656

  Newport

  864

  1,110

  1,358

  1,300

  1,218

  1,199

  1,513

  1,258

  1,550

  1,635

  2,460

  2,696

  2,936

  Ogwr

  338

  343

  517

  736

  599

  448

  826

  1,667

  994

  1,193

  1,176

  1,332

  1,671

  Port Talbot

  170

  133

  94

  112

  160

  226

  164

  304

  357

  327

  442

  303

  340

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  135

  164

  130

  97

  96

  78

  148

  108

  176

  194

  153

  209

  255

  Radnorshire

  19

  38

  45

  14

  19

  34

  54

  23

  31

  60

  36

  64

  45

  Rhondda

  569

  834

  1,164

  1,049

  852

  479

  317

  320

  268

  270

  292

  166

  358

  Rhuddian

  237

  139

  172

  257

  268

  204

  242

  249

  296

  256

  273

  293

  177

  Rhymney Valley

  534

  720

  510

  284

  418

  344

  629

  643

  410

  580

  655

  439

  395

  South Pembrokeshire

  143

  188

  181

  202

  230

  280

  224

  165

  210

  271

  241

  248

  205

  Swansea4

  1,604

  1,838

  2,820

  1,887

  1,416

  1,396

  762

  685

  654

  439

  345

  450

  1,779

  Taff-Ely

  390

  253

  200

  188

  158

  176

  186

  278

  321

  395

  442

  568

  715

  Torfaen

  1,049

  978

  723

  790

  675

  426

  531

  958

  708

  881

  968

  1,216

  1,038

  Vale of Glamorgan

  620

  749

  636

  1,329

  896

  726

  570

  427

  293

  755

  1,042

  1,160

  1,184

  Wrexham Maelor

  235

  471

  353

  212

  238

  441

  411

  567

  522

  717

  740

  863

  730

  Ynys Mon

  137

  83

  33

  26

  44

  54

  50

  62

  65

  106

  49

  97

  111

  Wales

  12,698

  14,315

  14,738

  114,446

  13,418

  12,631

  13,802

  15,311

  14,402

  17,105

  19,168

  19,675

  23,859

  Percentage change on previous year

  —

  12.7

  3.0

  -2.0

  -7.1

  -5.9

  9.3

  10.9

  -5.9

  18.8

  12.1

  2.6

  21.3

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.
  1 Includes an estimate for Neath as this is not available.
  2 Excludes data for Islwyn for the October to December quarter.
  3 Excludes those persons made homeless in Colwyn as a result of the major flooding incident in February 1990.
  4 It is known that the figure for Swansea prior to 1991 was under-recorded by the authority.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he proposes to assist local authorities in their attempts to tackle the maintenance problems of housing stock.

  Mr. David Hunt
  For the private stock, this year I have made over £169 million available for home renovation and disabled facilities grants—an increase of £82 million over last year—with a further £26 million available for area renewal and defective dwellings.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of individuals registered under the homeless persons legislation as being homeless in Wales for each year since 1979 inclusive with the percentage increase/decrease on the previous years, and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Numbers of persons in households accepted as homeless by local authorities under part III of the Housing Act 1985 are given in the table:

  For the public stock, I have increased subsidy allowances by an average of 7.5 per cent. per dwelling this year with biggest increases going to authorities with stock in poorest condition. Authorities estimate spending on management and maintenance within their housing revenue accounts at over £190 million this year. In addition to the estimated £91 million available to authorities for capital expenditure from credit approvals, usable receipts and revenue contributions I have set aside up to £6 million to tackle problems on selected estates under our estate partnership programme.
  547
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the proportion of the housing stock in Wales earmarked for the elderly in(a) 1980 and (b) 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the proportion of Welsh housing stock suitable specifically for elderly persons.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to restore the level of council housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Local authorities are being encouraged to develop their enabling role and work in partnership with housing associations who are now the main providers of new social housing in Wales. Inclusive of private finance Housing for Wales's total programme for 1992–93 will amount to over £180 million, which will provide some 4,000 new homes.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new council houses were built in 1991; and how many council houses were sold.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In 1991, a total of 421 council houses were built and 3,668 were sold.

  Disablement Benefits
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people living in Wales who suffer disabilities receive disablement benefits.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest available information on the numbers of recipients in Wales of social security disablement benefits and state compensation for disablement—war pensions—is shown in the table. The total of the numbers of recipients of the different benefits may be greater than the number of people receiving benefit as people may receive more than one benefit.

  Benefit

  Latest date for which estimated number of recipients is available

  Number in receipt

  Attendance Allowance

  31 March 1991

  63,000

  Mobility Allowance

  2 April 1992

  59,000

  Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit

  30 March 1991

  19,000

  War Pension

  31 December 1991

  12,000

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  31 March 1990

  22,000

  Source: Department of Social Security.

  Notes:

  1. The above figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand (000).

  2. Attendance allowance is an estimate based on a 1 per cent sample.

  3. Industrial injury disablement benefit numbers are current assessments but do not include reduced earning allowance or other industrial injury benefits and are based on a 10 per cent. sample.

  4. War pension figures are based on a 10 per cent. sample.

  5. Severe disablement allowance is based on a 1 per cent. sample.

  6. The above refer to Wales as a statistical region with the exception of war pensions which is based on post office locality.

  Historic Buildings Council
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the next report of the Historic Buildings Council for Wales.
  548
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 35th annual report of the Historic Buildings Council for Wales has been published today. The report covers the financial year 1990–91 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Local Government
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the statutory responsibilities that he intends to propose shall be placed on the unitary local authorities in Wales following his proposed reorganisation of local government in Wales;

  (2) if he will list the non-statutory and permissive powers he plans to propose shall be made available to the unitary local authorities in Wales following his proposed reorganisation of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Consultation on the reorganisation of local government in Wales has proceeded on the basis that the new unitary authorities will be responsible for those services currently the responsibility of the existing district and county councils. Detailed discussions on service delivery arrangements under the new structure are taking place with the local authority associations under the aegis of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Superphoenix Fast Reactor
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what United Kingdom investment has been made to date into the superphoenix fast reactor in France; and whether there are any outstanding commitments to the project by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  Nuclear Electric has a 1.65 per cent. holding in the German company Schnell-Bruter-Kerngraftwerks GmBh, SBK, which has a 16 per cent. holding in Superphoenix. There are no outstanding commitments.

  Innovation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to complete his consideration of the Faraday proposals, put forward by the Prince of Wales's working group on innovation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Speech made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Faraday proposals during the debate on science and technology on 11 June,Official Report, columns 481-82.

  Privatisations
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will review the role, responsibilities and powers of the regulatory bodies for former privatised industries within his Department's responsibilities to ensure more effective limitation of charges to the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The powers of the regulators were reviewed in the preparatory work for the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992. The provisions of that Act
  549
  enhance the powers of the regulators, and facilitate greater competition in gas. The industry regulators have already achieved price reductions in real terms since privatisation of 11 per cent. in BT's average residential bill, and 13 per cent. for domestic gas. Price rises for domestic electricity are limited to the increase in the RPI for the first three years of the new arrangements.

  Export Credits
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has had any discussions with Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan on unfair competition in conditions governing export credits available in EC countries.

  Mr. Needham
  No. However, my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State wrote to Sir Leon Brittan in September 1991 offering support for the Commission's work on eliminating subsidies in export credits and my officials are currently engaged in discussions on this with the Commission and their counterparts in other member states.

  Ferrybridge C
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the present timetable for the installation of flue gas desulphurisation equipment at Ferrybridge C power station.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the President is considering an application from PowerGen for consent to fit flue gas desulphurisation equipment at Ferrybridge C. Subject to this, the timetable for installation of the equipment is a commercial matter for the company, consistent with meeting its emission limits set by the United Kingdom's national plan for implementing the European Community's large combustion plants directive.

  European Community Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the directives relevant to his Department made by the EC in the past 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the number of companies each directive will affect.

  Mr. Needham
  Following is a list of EC directives adopted since 1 June 1991 for which my Department has policy responsibility. No estimate has been made of the number of companies each directive will affect.

  European Community Directives

    Directives adopted by the Council of Ministers
    Council Directive 91/287/EEC of 3 June 1991 on the frequency band to be designated for the co-ordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT). Official Journal Reference L144 of 8 June 1991.
    Council Directive 91/368/EEC of 20 June 1991 amending Directive 89/392/EEC relating to machinery. Official Journal Reference L198 of 22 July 1991.
    Council Directive 91/371/EEC of 20 June 1991 on the implementation of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning direct insurance other than life assurance. Official Journal Reference L205 of 27 July 1991.
    Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings. Official Journal Reference L374 of 31 December 1991.
    Council Directive 91/675/EEC of 19 December 1991 setting up an Insurance Committee. Official Journal Reference L374 of 31 December 1991.
    550
    Council Directive 92/31/EEC of 28 April 1992 amending Directive 89/336/EEC relating to electromagnetic compatibility. Official Journal Reference L126 of 12 May 1992.
    Council Directive 92/38/EEC of 11 May 1992 on the adoption of standards for satellite broadcasting of television signals. Official Journal Reference L137 of 20 May 1992.

    Directives addressed to Member States by the EC Commission under delegated procedure
    Commission Directive 91/410/EEC of 22 July 1991 adopting to technical progress for the fourteenth time Council Directive 67/548/EEC relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. Official Journal Reference L228 of 17 August 1991.
    Commission Directive 91/442/EEC of 23 July 1991 on dangerous preparations, the packaging of which must be fitted with child resistant fastenings. Official Journal Reference L238 of 27 August 1991.
    Commission Directive 92/8/EEC of 18 February 1992 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/768/ EEC relating to cosmetic products. Official Journal Reference L70 of 17 March 1992.
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the draft directives issued by DGXXIII of the European Commission in the past 12 months; what estimate he has made of the number of companies each directive will affect; and at what cost.

    Mr. Needham
    DG XXIII of the European Commission has issued three draft directives in the past 12 months. They are:

    (i) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European association with regard to the involvement of employees.

    (ii) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European cooperative society with regard to the involvement of employees.

    (iii) Proposal for a Council Directive supplementing the Statute for a European mutual society with regard to the involvement of employees.

    No estimate has yet been made of the number of organisations likely to be affected by the directives, or the potential costs. A public consultation exercise is to be undertaken shortly which aims to assess the possible effect of the directives.

    United States Exports
    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures for the total United States exports to each of(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Japan, (c) Germany, (d) France and (e) Italy for the latest available year.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The information is published in the OECD publication "Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

    Trade Balances
    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the invisible trade balance for each of(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the USA, (c) Germany, (d) France and (e) Japan for the latest available year.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The information is in the table:

    Balance on invisible transactions in 1990

    Country

    Balance £ million

    United Kingdom

    4.3

    USA

    8.9

    Germany

    -13.1

    551

    Country

    Balance £ million

    France

    2.3

    Japan

    -15.5

    Source: IMF Balance of Payments Statistics, CSO.

    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom's bilateral trade balance with the United States for the latest available year; and what is the United Kingdom's trade balance with(a) Canada, (b) Japan, (c) France and (d) Germany.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: Information on United Kingdom visible trade is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House.

    Visible Exports
    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures for the total visible exports for the top 10 exporting countries for the latest available year.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The information is available in the publication "GATT Focus Newsletter" issue 89 for April 1992, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

    Car Imports
    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures for imports of American-built cars from the United States of America to the United Kingdom for the latest available year, and comparable figures for imports from Germany and Japan.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: Information on United Kingdom imports is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House. The statistics classify goods according to the country of dispatch, which may differ from the country of manufacture.

    Exports
    Mr. Oppenheim
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures for United Kingdom exports expressed as(a) per capita and (b) as a percentage of gross national product for the latest available year.

    Mr. Needham
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The most recent year for which the OECD has published information on both the United Kingdom's population and exports is 1990. Based on this information, the value of United Kingdom visible exports per capita was £1,805 in 1990.

    The OECD does not publish United Kingdom figures for gross national product. On the basis of gross domestic product, the United Kingdom's exports of goods accounted for 18.9 per cent. of GDP in 1990 and 18.2 per cent. in 1991.

    Assisted Areas
    Mr. Hutton
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the involvement of Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte in the review of assisted areas being conducted by his Department; and whether he will make a statement.
    552
    Mr. Sainsbury
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: None.

    Protective Equipment
    Mr. Hawksley
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made to consult the industry on appendix 4, glove and arm protection in the use of personal protective equipment at the workplace directive; where the section appears in the consultation document; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. McLoughlin
    I have been asked to reply.

    Proposals to implement the use of personal protective equipment directive—89/656/EEC—were published by the Health and Safety Commission—HSC—on 6 December 1991 in its consultative document "Personal Protective Equipment at Work. Proposals for Regulations and Guidance". A copy is in the Library. The closing date for comments was 5 April 1992.

    Within the consultative document, the HSC requested comments on the need for guidance in support of the regulations. It proposed that specific guidance on "Hand and Arm Protection" be prepared as appendix 4 to the supporting guidance. Both sides of industry will be further consulted following the preparation of such specific draft guidance.

  DUCHY OF LANCASTER

    Agencies
    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all the executive agencies that have been established to date and the number of staff currently employed in each case, in full-time equivalents.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The current list of established agencies including organisations that are operating on next steps lines showing the staff employed in each case is as follows:

    Agency

    Staff1

    Accounts Services Agency

    90

    ADAS Agency

    2,500

    Building Research Establishment

    700

    Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

    230

    Central Office of Information2

    670

    Central Science Laboratory

    370

    Central Statistical Office

    1,090

    Central Veterinary Laboratory

    590

    Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment3

    600

    Civil Service College

    230

    Companies House2

    1,070

    Compensation Agency4

    150

    Defence Research Agency

    12,150

    Directorate General of Defence Accounts3

    2,130

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

    4,580

    Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency4

    250

    Driving Standards Agency

    2,080

    Duke of York's Royal Military School

    100

    DVOIT

    590

    Employment Service

    38,400

    Fire Service College2

    160

    Forensic Science Service

    600

    Historic Royal Palaces

    330

    Historic Scotland

    630

    HMSO2

    3,250

    Hydrographic Office3

    860

    Insolvency Service

    1,470

    Intervention Board

    980

    Laboratory of the Government Chemist

    340

    Land Registry

    9,800

    553

    Agency

    Staff1

    Medicines Control Agency

    300

    Meteorological Office

    2,390

    Military Survey3

    1,300

    National Engineering Laboratory

    390

    National Physical Laboratory

    830

    National Weights and Measures Laboratory

    50

    Natural Resources Institute

    440

    Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation3

    1,510

    NHS Estates

    120

    Occupational Health Service

    100

    Ordnance Survey

    2,380

    Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland4

    210

    Patent Office2

    1,080

    Planning Inspectorate

    630

    Public Record Office

    440

    Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

    60

    Queen Victoria School

    60

    Radiocommunications Agency

    520

    RAF Maintenance3

    13,300

    Rate Collection Agency4

    270

    Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

    240

    Registers of Scotland

    1,280

    Royal Mint2

    1,020

    Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

    140

    Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

    210

    Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)3

    2,300

    Social Security Agency4

    5,350

    Social Security Benefits Agency

    63,100

    Social Security Contributions Agency

    8,000

    Social Security Information Technology Services Agency

    4,000

    Social Security Resettlement Agency

    520

    Teachers' Pensions Agency

    300

    The Buying Agency2

    110

    Training & Employment Agency4

    1,670

    Transport Research Laboratory

    580

    United Kingdom Passport Agency

    1,250

    Valuation Office

    5,200

    Vehicle Certification Agency

    80

    Vehicle Inspectorate2

    1,820

    Veterinary Medicines Directorate

    80

    Warren Spring Laboratory

    310

    Wilton Park Conference Centre

    30

    72 in number

    210,960

    Customs and Excise5 (30 Executive Units)

    26,800

    Inland Revenue5 (34 Executive Offices)

    62,100

    TOTAL:6

    299,860

    TOTAL CIVIL SERVANTS:7

    290,490

    1 October 1991 figures for Civil Servants and Armed Forces Personnel. Casuals are excluded. Part time staff are counted as half units.

    2 Trading fund.

    3 Defence Support Agency.

    4 Northern Ireland Civil Service.

    5 Departments operating fully on 'Next Steps' lines. Staffing figure for Inland Revenue excludes the Valuation Office which is a free standing agency.

    6 Includes 8,070 Armed Forces personnel in Ministry of Defence Agencies, and 1,300 locally engaged staff in Service Children's Schools (North West Europe).

    7 Includes 7,900 Civil Servants in agencies of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all units of central Government that are currently under consideration for executive agency status, their parent Department, and the number of staff employed in each case, in full-time equivalents.
    554
    Mr. Waldegrave
    The current list of activities announced by Departments as under consideration for executive agency status, together with their parent Departments and staff employed is as follows:

    Candidate name

    Parent Department

    Staff1

    Army Logistics2

    Defence

    12,700

    Chessington Computer Centre

    Treasury

    440

    Child Support Agency3 4

    Northern Ireland

    See note

    Common Services Division2

    Defence

    1,700

    Defence Animal Centre2

    Defence

    150

    Defence Operational Analysis Centre2

    Defence

    180

    Defence Postal Courier Service2

    Defence

    600

    Defence Analytical Services Agency2

    Defence

    150

    Directorate Information Technology Bureau Services2

    Defence

    120

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency3

    Northern Ireland

    250

    Equipment Test and Evaluation2

    Defence

    2,220

    Fuel Suppliers Branch

    Environment

    20

    Her Majesty's Prison Service

    Home Office

    34,900

    Human Factors Research2

    Defence

    390

    Meat Hygiene Service5

    Agriculture

    See note

    Ministry of Defence Police2

    Defence

    4,550

    Naval Training2

    Defence

    5,040

    National Health Service Superannuation Branch

    Health

    630

    Office of Population Censuses and Surveys6

    See note

    2,150

    Pesticide Safety Directorate

    Agriculture

    150

    Property Division

    Treasury Solicitor

    120

    Property Holdings Portfolio Management

    Environment

    460

    Royal Air Force Training2

    Defence

    11,200

    Royal Parks

    National Heritage

    580

    Scottish Office Superannuation

    Scottish Office

    160

    Scottish Prison Service

    Scottish Office

    4,100

    Social Security Child Support Agency7

    Social Security

    See note

    Valuation and Lands Office3

    Northern Ireland

    350

    Youth Treatment Service

    Health

    220

    29 in number

    TOTAL8

    83,530

    TOTAL CIVIL SERVANTS9

    67,200

    1 October 1991 figures for civil servants and armed forces personnel. Casuals are excluded. Part-time staff are counted as half units.

    2 May be launched as a Defence Support Agency.

    3 Northern Ireland Civil Service.

    4 Estimated to require 550 staff by April 1993. Of these 120 will come from the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency.

    5 Estimated to require 1,800 staff, drawn from a variety of sources.

    6 Independent Government Department. Responsible Minister: Secretary of State for Health.

    7 From early 1993 the agency is estimated to require 4,500 staff, 1,500 of which will come from the Social Security Benefits Agency.

    8 Includes 16,330 armed forces personnel in Ministry of Defence candidates.

    9 Includes 600 civil servants in candidates of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

    Many other areas are under internal consideration for executive agency status.

    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what central guidance has been provided to departments and agencies on the subject of market testing and contracting out; and if he will place a copy of the guidance on the Library.
    555
    Mr. Waldegrave
    In addition to the White Paper "Competing for Quality: Buying Better Public Services" Cm 1730, central guidance is contained in the public competition and purchasing unit's note No. 34. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

    Name

    Department first entered

    Grade on entry

    Current Department

    Sir Robin Butler

    Her Majesty's Treasury

    Assistant Principal

    Cabinet Office

    Sir Terry Burns

    Her Majesty's Treasury

    Chief Economic Adviser

    Her Majesty's Treasury

    Sir Derek Andrews

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    Assistant Principal

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    Sir Anthony Battishill

    Inland Revenue

    Assistant Principal

    Inland Revenue

    Mr. Patrick Brown

    Department of the Environment

    Principal

    Department of Transport

    Sir John Caines

    Ministry of Supply

    Assistant Principal

    Department for Education

    Mr. John Chilcot

    Home Office

    Assistant Principal

    Northern Ireland Office

    Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield

    Ministry of Housing and Local Government

    Assistant Principal

    Property Services Agency

    Sir Christopher France

    Her Majesty's Treasury

    Assistant Principal

    Ministry of Defence

    Mrs. Barbara Mills

    Serious Fraud Office

    Grade 2

    Crown Prosecution Service

    Mr. Peter Graham

    Her Majesty's Treasury

    Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

    Parliamentary Counsel Office

    Sir Peter Gregson

    Board of Trade

    Assistant Principal

    Department of Trade and Industry

    Mr. Graham Hart

    Ministry of Health and Social Security

    Assistant Principal

    Department of Health

    Sir Russell Hillhouse

    Scottish Education Department

    Assistant Principal

    The Scottish Office

    Sir Geoffrey Holland

    Ministry of Labour

    Assistant Principal

    Department of Employment

    Mr. Thomas Legg

    Lord Chancellor's Department

    Legal Assistant

    Lord Chancellor's Department

    Sir Richard Lloyd-Jones

    Admiralty

    Assistant Principal

    Welsh Office

    Sir Malcolm McIntosh

    Ministry of Defence

    Grade 1

    Ministry of Defence

    Sir James Nursaw

    Home Office

    Legal Assistant

    Treasury Solicitor's Department

    Sir Michael Partridge

    Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance

    Assistant Principal

    Department of Social Security

    Sir Brian Unwin

    Commonwealth Relations Office

    Assistant Principal

    Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

    Sir Clive Whitmore

    War Office

    Assistant Principal

    Home Office

    Mr. Richard Wilson

    Board of Trade

    Assistant Principal

    Department of the Environment

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Fair Employment
    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how and where the post of Fair Employment Commission director was advertised and recruited.

    Mr. Atkins
    The post of chief executive of the Fair Employment Commission, was filled in 1989 following

    Permanent Secretaries
    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list each permanent secretary, his or her current Department, the grade at which they entered the civil service, and the Department at which they began their civil service career.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    There are currently 23 permanent secretaries—Grade 1—in the home civil service. Details of their starting grade, Department first entered and current Department are as follows, although most have had wider experience:

    advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph, the Belfast Newsletter, the Irish News, The Guardian, the Irish Times, The Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Times.

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors other than religious discrimination contribute to apparent discrepancies in work patterns in Northern Ireland.

    Mr. Atkins
    The existence of religious discrimination in Northern Ireland was central to Parliament's acceptance of the need for strengthened legislation to deal with
    557
    continuing inequalities in employment. It was, however, also accepted that other factors contribute to the differentials in employment and unemployment between Catholics and Protestants. The hon. Gentleman may find it useful to refer to the discussion on this complex matter in SACHR's "Report on Fair Employment" (Cm 237).

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the sectors of employment and (b) the individual companies or employers considered exempt for the purposes of fair employment monitoring.

    Mr. Atkins
    Only private sector concerns with 10 or fewer employees are exempt from the monitoring provisions of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989.

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the difference between a target and a quota when the FEC investigates or scrutinises the annual monitoring returns of a company and sets a target to balance the work force.

    Mr. Atkins
    Under fair employment legislation the promotion of affirmative action to secure change permits the setting of goals and timetables against which progress may be measured. Goals and timetables are targets that an employer would expect, and should make good faith efforts, to reach within a certain timescale. Quotas on the other hand reserve jobs or training places for people on the basis of religious belief or political opinion and are unlawful in Northern Ireland.

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will institute a survey of whether Protestant employers are more likely to discriminate than Roman Catholic employers.

    Mr. Atkins
    I have no plans to do so.

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent to which balance in the work force is an accurate measure of equality of opportunity and sectarian balance can be achieved by discrimination.

    Mr. Atkins
    Balance in a work force is no guarantee that equality of opportunity is being afforded to both sides of the community. It is for this reason that the law requires employers regularly to review not only the religious composition of their work forces but their employment practices.

    Travellers
    Mr. Trimble
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the sites that have been provided for travelling people or itinerants.

    Mr. Atkins
    Fully serviced sites have been provided for travelling people by district councils in Coalisland, Newry and Omagh and two sites in Londonderry.

    Two serviced sites in Belfast are due for completion by September 1992. In the interim, travelling people are being provided with basic amenities at these two locations.

    A partly serviced site has also been provided in Tattykeel, Omagh.

    Mr. Trimble
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many travelling people or itinerants are presently residing on sites provided for their accommodation.
    558
    Mr. Atkins
    There are approximately 620 travelling people currently residing on sites provided by local councils.

    Mr. Trimble
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many travelling people or itinerants are known to be trespassing on(a) public land and (b) privately owned land.

    Mr. Atkins
    There are approximately 319 travelling people—75 vans—on public land and 46–11 vans—on private land. Their locations are as follows:

    People

    Vans

    Public land

    Belfast

    236

    51

    Strabane

    18

    7

    Armagh

    40

    11

    Fermanagh

    25

    6

    Private land

    Craigavon

    16

    4

    Magherafelt

    30

    7

    Mr. Trimble
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of travelling people or itinerants currently residing in Northern Ireland; how many are United Kingdom citizens; and how many are immigrants from the Republic of Ireland.

    Mr. Atkins
    A survey of travelling people in Northern Ireland in 1988, indicated that there were 1,050 individuals. Their numbers have not changed significantly during the last 3½ years.

    It is estimated that 85–90 per cent. of those currently residing in Northern Ireland were born in Northern Ireland.

    Market Testing
    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

    Mr. Mates
    The proposals for market testing in Northern Ireland departments and agencies are under consideration and an announcement will be made shortly.

    Homelessness
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of individuals registered under the homeless persons legislation as being homeless in Northern Ireland for each year since 1979, inclusive with the percentage increase or decrease on the previous year; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority.

    Mr. Atkins
    The information requested is not available prior to April 1989 when the homelessness provisions of the Housing (NI) Order 1988 came into operation. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the sole public housing authority in Northern Ireland, and I am advised by its chairman that the number of applicants accepted as being either homeless or threatened with homelessness since 1 April 1989 and the percentage increase on the previous year is as follows:
    559

    Year

    Number

    Difference

    1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

    5,166

    —

    1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

    7,219

    +39.7

    1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

    7,494

    +3.8

    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was(a) the total expenditure and (b) the additional specific allocation for tackling homelessness which was provided in the latest financial year giving a breakdown by local authority.

    Mr. Atkins
    The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the sole public sector housing authority in Northern Ireland. No resources are allocated to the executive specifically to tackle homelessness. However, its chairman has advised me that the executive spent £1.216 million on homelessness in 1991–92.

    Cancer
    Mr. Mallon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what were the cancer mortality rates in each electoral ward in the Southern health board area in each of the past 10 years;

    Cancer mortality rate per 100,000 of population

    Health board area Unit of management

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1989

    1990

    Eastern

    North-West Belfast and South-East Belfast

    260

    272

    291

    279

    280

    279

    277

    307

    294

    North Down and Ards

    196

    204

    200

    222

    196

    213

    224

    232

    221

    Down and Lisburn

    168

    175

    187

    176

    152

    186

    172

    179

    191

    Northern

    Bankside

    161

    137

    174

    154

    161

    184

    166

    183

    165

    Causeway

    188

    196

    173

    185

    205

    193

    206

    216

    233

    Loughside

    174

    201

    195

    208

    201

    208

    223

    216

    225

    Southern

    Craigavon and Banbridge

    155

    170

    170

    184

    156

    173

    180

    196

    193

    Armagh and Dungannon

    186

    174

    149

    164

    179

    204

    201

    188

    189

    Newry and Mourne

    196

    200

    162

    139

    197

    175

    161

    213

    182

    Western

    Foyle

    150

    148

    160

    157

    167

    188

    181

    170

    168

    Omagh and Fermanagh

    142

    170

    189

    204

    178

    161

    237

    191

    202

    Note: Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

    International Fund for Ireland
    Mr. Jenkin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to meet the board of the International Fund for Ireland to discuss his Department's contacts with the fund; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Mates
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with the chairman of the board of the international fund; the last such meeting was on 8 June. The Government are conscious of the valuable work being carried out by the fund which is making a significant contribution to the economic and social regeneration of the areas in which it works. We look forward to maintaining close contact with the board which is performing such a significant role.
    560
    (2) what were the average cancer mortality rates, in each health unit of management in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years.

    Mr. Hanley
    This information is not available at electoral ward level. Figures at board level and figures based on the presently defined boundaries of health board units of management, are as follows:

    Year

    Rate per 100,000 of population

    1982

    177

    1983

    180

    1984

    160

    1985

    157

    1986

    176

    1987

    184

    1988

    181

    1989

    198

    1990

    188

    Note: Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  ENVIRONMENT

    Gravel Extraction and Waste Tipping
    Mr. Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the local authority associations and European Community institutions about the environmental problems arising from the twin industries of gravel extraction and the tipping of waste.

    Mr. Baldry
    There have been no specific discussions about the environmental aspects of gravel extraction and subsequent landfilling of wastes, but there has been involvement with the local authority association and the European Commission in consideration of a draft Directive on landfilling of wastes.

    Water Regulation
    Mr. Jenkin
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account the Office of Water Services takes of the level of investment in the water industry in its regulatory functions.

    Mr. Maclean
    As the water industry is engaged in a massive capital investment programme estimated to cost £28 billion, the Director General of Water Services, as the independent regulator, necessarily has a close interest in ensuring that the programme is carried out on time and in an efficient way.

    Rented Housing
    Mr. Winnick
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received over the shortage of affordable rented accommodation.

    Mr. Baldry
    I receive such representations fairly frequently. There are local shortages of rented housing in some parts of the country, and the Government have a major public expenditure programme, amounting to nearly £8 billion this year, to build new social housing, renovate existing housing, and help council tenants on low incomes to afford their rents.

    Mortgage Repossessions
    Mr. Trimble
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the schemes to assist home owners threatened with repossession by banks and building societies.

    Sir George Young
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretaries of State for Social Security and for Wales and I met the Council of Mortgage Lenders on 2 June to review progress with mortgage rescue schemes.

    We were encouraged to hear the lenders' estimate that measures taken since December will save some 55,000 repossessions this year.

    Both mortgage lenders and the Government will continue to give priority to making rescue schemes work.

    Earth Summit
    Mr. Alan W. Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining agreements reached at the Earth summit.

    Mr. Howard
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Dr. Strang) and for York (Mr. Bayley).

    Mr. Jon Owen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet Maurice Strong to discuss the outcome of the Rio de Janeiro summit.

    Mr. Howard
    I had very useful discussions with Mr. Strong while in Rio, but I have no specific plans at the moment to meet him again.

    Mr. Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of the official texts of the agreements reached at the United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro.
    562
    Mr. Howard
    The climate change convention text is already in the Library; the other texts will follow when official copies are available.

    Compulsory Competitive Tendering
    Mr. Hague
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings have been made by local government as a result of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering.

    Sir Michael Neubert
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings have been made by local government as a result of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Redwood
    Research commissioned by the Department and carried out by the Institute of Local Government Studies at the university of Birmingham has found that annual cost savings of 6 per cent. of contract value have been achieved by local authorities as a result of competition for services under the Local Government Act 1988.

    River Quality
    Mr. John Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of rivers in England are in good or fair condition; and what is the European average.

    Mr. Maclean
    The 1990 river quality survey published by the National Rivers Authority shows that around 90 per cent. of river length in England and Wales is of good or fair quality. A review of river classification schemes across the European Community published in 1988 by the Water Research Centre showed that the average figure in the EC for rivers of comparable quality was 75 per cent.

    Urban Programmes
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional statistics he proposes to collect under the Government's review of inner cities and urban renewal programmes.

    Mr. Redwood
    Inner city policies and programmes are regularly evaluated. We will continue to assess them in the light of various pieces of information including existing statistics, the 1991 census of population, experience of the first two rounds of city challenge and results of current research assessing the impact of inner city policies generally.

    Subsidiarity
    Mr. Michael
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will implement the principle of subsidiarity in the way the responsibilities of his Department are exercised and in the relationship between his Department and locally elected bodies.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    The Government are always guided by a proper interpretation of the rules of subsidiarity when conducting their relations with local government.

    Poll Tax
    Mr. Canavan
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost to date of introducing, administering and collecting the poll tax, including the cost of Government-initiated relief schemes.
    563
    Mr. Robin Squire
    The cost of preparing for administering and collecting the community charge in England up to 1 April 1992 has been about £1.2 billion. Government relief schemes have reduced the burden of local domestic taxation to 15 per cent. of local government spending and have not added to overall public expenditure.

    Pollution Inspectorate
    Mr. David Shaw
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and if he will arrange for hon. Members who wish to do so to visit the inspectorate.

    Mr. Maclean
    Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has a key role in protecting the environment by enforcing the industrial pollution control regulations. The system has been strengthened by the introduction of integrated pollution contol under the Environmental protection act 1990, and the inspectorate's manpower complement has been increased significantly, from 199 at the time of its setting up in 1987 to 377 today.

    Where hon. Members are seeking factual information on particular cases dealt with by the inspectorate, I am happy to arrange for those hon. Members to meet the inspectorate.

    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what powers of enforcement Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has with regard to integrated pollution control; and what considerations are taken into account in determining the charges levied on industry for administering the inspectorate of pollution;

    (2) how many staff are currently employed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; what are the current operating costs of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and what the figures were for the previous two years.

    Mr. Howard
    The enforcement powers of inspectors of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—in relation to integrated pollution control are contained in part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. They include powers to revoke an authorisation to carry on a process; and to serve an enforcement notice to secure necessary improvements in the operation to a process, to serve a prohibition notice in relation to a process where there is considered to be an imminent risk of serious pollution.

    It is an offence to operate a prescribed process without an authorisation or in contravention with the conditions within an authorisation, and to fail to comply with an enforcement or prohibition notice.

    HMIP's fees and charges for pollution control are set so as to recover the inspectorate's costs relating to the carrying out of integrated pollution control and regulation of premises under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, as required by the relevant legislative provisions—section 8 of the Environmental Protection Act and section 11A of the Radioactive Substances Act.

    There are currently 308 staff in post in HMIP. The figures for the previous two years were:

    1 April 1990 172

    1 April 1991 226.5

    HMIP's authorised complement for 1992–93 has been increased to 377.5. Recruitment of additional staff is in progress.
    564
    In 1991–92, the operating cost of the inspectorate, on a full economic cost basis, was £20.5 million. For 1992–93, the forecast cost is £27.5 million, of which some £12.3 million relates to integrated pollution control and Radioactive Substances Act regulation and is recoverable through fees and charges. The increased total cost for 1992–93 is mainly due to the increase in staff in post and complement. Equivalent cost information for 1990–91 is not available.

    Water Charges
    Mr. Pickthall
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring the Director General of Water Services is undertaking of the charging policies of water companies.

    Mr. Maclean
    The director general monitors the charging schemes operated by water and sewerage undertakers to ensure that they do not give undue preference to or unfairly discriminate against any group or class of customer.

    Sir John Hannam
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring the Office of Water Services is carrying out over the level of water charges in the south-west.

    Mr. Maclean
    The Director General of Water Services monitors all water companies to ensure that they comply with the RPI plus K formula which is a condition of their licence, and that they do not give undue preference to or unfairly discriminate against any group or class of customer.

    Environmental Protection Agency
    Mr. Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals for the environmental protection agency.

    Mr. Maclean
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 13 May,Official Report, column 125.

    Data Protection
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Howard
    My Department observes the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Consultations with the Data Protection Registrar have taken place where necessary, and I am satisfied that arrangements are effective.

    Uniform Business Rate
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority in England and Wales the current percentage rate of community charge outstanding in respect of the uniform business rate.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    Community charge is not payable in respect of the uniform business rate. Authorities in
    565
    England collected 89 per cent. of their 1991–92 budgeted community charge income by 31 March 1992 and 95 per cent. of their non-domestic rates income by the same date.

    I have today placed in the Library of the House collection figures for each authority in England. Figures for Welsh authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

    Mr. Hutton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average annual increase in uniform business rate in(a) the South Lakeland district area and (b) the rest of England and Wales for 1991 and the current year.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    [holding answer 11 June 1992]: In each financial year the increase in the uniform business rate poundage is limited to the rate of inflation as measured by the retail prices index in September of the preceding year. This was 10.9 and 4.1 per cent. in 1991–92 and 1992–93 respectively.

    In 1991–92 the annual increase in the aggregate rate bill for businesses in the South Lakeland district was 17.4 per cent. and for the rest of England and Wales it was 10.1 per cent. These figures take account not only of the increase in the poundage, but also of the transitional arrangements which are phasing in the effect of the 1990 reforms. For the current year, taking account of the changes to the transitional arrangements proposed in the Budget, we estimate the figures to be 2.8 per cent. and zero respectively.

    Pollution
    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to open records of pollutant discharges and offer environmental monitoring activities for public inspection.

    Mr. Maclean
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 June 1992,Official Report, column 439.

    Community Charge
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purpose the community charge register has been used; and what plans he has for using this register in the future.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    Charging authorities use their community charges register to determine individuals' liability for the community charge. Under the council tax authorities will not require a register of all adults, although they will generally wish to identify who is liable in respect of a property. In the initial stages the community charges register will help them to do this, but after 1 April 1993 it will quickly lose its relevance.

    Mr. David Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had, since 1 January 1990, about purchases by local authorities of computer equipment and software for the administration of the community charge which failed to operate efficiently; what estimates he has made(a) of the number of local authorities involved and (b) the extra costs incurred; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    My Department has not received any specific representations.

    Grant Settlement
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the new grant settlement for 1993–94 for local authorities.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities on 21 May 1992,Official Report, column 195.

    Council Tax
    Mr. David Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to ensure that local authorities use computer software for the administration of the council tax which is(a) efficient and cost effective and (b) compatible, as far as possible, with equipment used in the administration of the community charge.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    It is a matter for local authorities to decide which computer system they use to run the council tax. My Department has sponsored a detailed council tax computer system specification produced by the Local Authority Systems Alliance. This offers advice on all identified user requirements and addresses the varied application needs of authorities for in-house computer development, software house systems and package evaluation. A copy has been sent to all authorities.

    Rent Control
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many lettings became available as the result of the abolition of rent control in June 1987.

    Mr. Baldry
    Rent control in England was ended, for new lettings only, when the relevant provisions of the Housing Act 1988 came into effect on 15 January 1989. The most recent figures available are from the 1990 private renters survey. By summer 1990 there were an estimated 480,000 lettings in the newly decontrolled sector in England, 130,000 of them in properties which had not been let to private tenants two years earlier.

    Council House Sales
    Mr. Cummings
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what receipts have been received by the Easington district council in each year since 1987 through the sale of council houses, land and other buildings.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    The information is as follows:

    Easington DC: Total sales of fixed assets

    £'000

    1987–88

    3,022

    1988–89

    4,280

    1989–90

    5,152

    1990–91

    4,582

    1991–92

    13,925

    1 Provisional.

    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the regulations governing service charges to former council tenants; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Baldry
    No changes are proposed. Council tenants who purchase their flats under the right to buy normally
    567
    covenant in their lease to pay a reasonable contribution towards the costs of repairs and other services provided by the landlord. This follows private sector practice.

    The protections against unreasonable service charges in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 apply to all leaseholders, including former council tenants.

    Local Government Commission
    Mr. William O'Brien
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what review the Local Government Commission for England will be conducting of the functions of parish or town councils in respect of developing enhanced responsiveness to local needs; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    The policy guidance to the Local Government Commission makes it clear that in considering whether options for changes to local government structure allow for the effective local discharge of functions or enhanced responsiveness to local needs, the commission should take into account the scope for delegations to parish councils.

    Mr. William O'Brien
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what review the Local Government Commission for England will be conducting of parish, town and community boundaries; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    My right hon. and learned Friend may direct the Local Government Commission to review parish boundaries under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1992. He has not yet decided what parish reviews he will direct the commission to carry out.

    Emissions
    Mr. Ainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many fossil-fuelled power stations have had their consent to emit sulphur dioxide reduced under the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement;

    (2) when the review of existing consents for the emission of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from all fossil-fuelled power stations will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Maclean
    No authorisations for fossil-fuelled power stations have yet been granted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Two applications for authorisation, in respect of National Power's stations at Pembroke in Wales and Padiham in Lancashire, are currently being considered by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The company has agreed to extend the determination period for these applications until 30 September. The remaining applications for authorisation are the subject of appeals to my right hon. and learned Friend about commercial confidentiality. They cannot be determined until after the appeal decision, which will be made as soon as possible.

    Planning and Compensation Act 1991
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what parts of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 remain to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the timetable for doing so.
    568
    Mr. Baldry
    The main provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 have already been implemented. Following further public consultations, my right hon. and learned Friend proposes to make orders and regulations giving effect to the remaining provisions in the summer and autumn of 1992, as follows:

    Early Summer

    Notices etc. of applications for planning permission—(section 16)

    Land of interested planning authorities and development by them—(section 20)

    Mid Summer

    Remaining enforcement provisions—(sections 2, 4 (part) and 10)

    Demolition of buildings—(section 13)

    Autumn

    Remaining provisions on Planning obligations—(section 12, (Schedules 106A and 106B))

    Simplified planning zones—(section 28).

    EC Directives
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the environmental directives which have been issued by the European Community in the past 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the number of companies each directive will affect.

    Mr. Maclean
    The following is a list of environmental directives issued by the European Community since 1 June 1991. Information on the numbers of companies affected by each directive is not collected centrally.

    Directive No.

    Directive title

    91/322

    Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work.

    91/325

    Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (12th adaptation)

    91/326

    Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (13th adaptation)

    91/338

    Restrictions on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (cadmium)

    91/339

    Restrictions on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (ugilec, DBBT)

    91/368

    Noise from construction plants

    91/382

    Worker protection from exposure to asbestos

    91/410

    Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (14th adaptation)

    91/414

    Marketing of plant protection products

    91/441

    Amending diretive 70/220 on air pollution by emissions from vehicles

    91/542

    Amending directive 88/77 on air pollution by emissions from diesel engines

    91/632

    Classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (15th adaptation)

    91-659

    Restrictions on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (asbestos)

    91/676

    Protection of waters against nitrate pollution form agriculture

    91/689

    Hazardous waste

    91/692

    Standardising and rationalising reports on the implementation of certain directives relating to the environment

    92/3

    Supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community

    92/143

    Aircraft noise

    Homelessness
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless persons for each year since its introduction; and if he will provide a breakdown by(a) region and (b) local authority.

    Mr. Baldry
    The available information for England is as follows:

    Bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless persons: England

    Net expenditure £ million

    1984–85

    15.7

    1985–86

    33.9

    1986–87

    75.5

    1987–88

    104.2

    1988–89

    90.2

    1989–90

    72.6

    Tables giving the readily available breakdowns by region and by local authority, covering 1988–89 and 1989–90, have been placed in the Library.

    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of individuals registered under the homeless persons legislation as being homeless in(a) England as a whole and (b) Great Britain as a whole for each year since 1979 inclusive, with the percentage increase/decrease on the previous year; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local authority.

    Mr. Baldry
    The available information represents the numbers of households for whom local authorities accepted responsibility for securing permanent accommodation, under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985. Estimates of the total number of persons in these households are not available centrally.

    The information for England is as follows:

    Year

    Households accepted

    Percentage increase/decrease

    1979

    55,530

    —

    1980

    60,400

    +8.7

    1981

    66,990

    +10.9

    1982

    71,620

    +6.9

    1983

    75,470

    +5.4

    1984

    80,500

    +6.7

    1985

    91,010

    +13.1

    1986

    100,490

    +10.4

    1987

    109,170

    +8.6

    1988

    113,770

    +4.2

    1989

    122,180

    +7.4

    1990

    140,350

    +14.9

    1991

    145,140

    +3.4

    A new reporting system was introduced for non-metropolitan districts from the fourth quarter of 1980 and for the other authorities from the third quarter of 1982. As a result figures for 1979 to 1982 are not strictly comparable with those for later periods.

    From the second quarter of 1991 the definition of acceptances was altered to exclude intentionally homeless and all the figures have been adjusted to the new basis.

    Regional estimates on the old basis for each quarter of 1984 and 1985 appear in table 1 of "Homeless Households
    570
    Reported by Local Authorities in England: Supplementary Tables". Results for subsequent quarters of 1986 to 1990 inclusive appear in table 1 of various issues of "Local Authorities' Actions Under 'the Homelessness Provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England, Results for …Quarter 19 …, Supplementary Tables".

    Regional estimates on the new basis for 1991 appear in the information bulletin "Households Found Accommodation Under the Homelessness Provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England: Statistics for the First Quarter of 1992". It is not appropriate to calculate percentage changes between figures on the old basis and the new basis. Estimates adjusted to the new basis, from 1984 onwards, will be published later this year.

    Copies of all these publications and the list of relevant issues for regional estimates for 1986 to 1990 are available in the Library.

    I have also placed in the Library tables giving the information actually reported by individual local authorities in England for each year from 1981 to 1991 inclusive. Information for the years 1979 and 1980 is available in edition no. 54, table 14, edition no. 61, table 11, and edition no. 62, table 13, of "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.

    For information about Wales and Scotland I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.

    Fire Regulations
    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions planning appeals to his Department under section 13 of the Hampshire Act 1983 have not been upheld; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Baldry
    Since 1 November 1990 my Department has received six appeals under section 13 of the Hampshire Act. One of these was withdrawn, one is under consideration at present and the other four appeals were upheld.

    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that the provisions of section 13 of the Hampshire Act 1983 with respect to fire safety in very large low-rise buildings are upheld in the planning appeal process.

    Mr. Baldry
    Appeals to the Secretary of State under section 13 of the Hampshire Act are not part of the planning system. They arise from the refusal of the building control authority to approve plans deposited in accordance with the requirements of the building regulations. The Secretary of State will continue to consider each case on its own merits, with the interests of the health and safety of people in and around buildings in mind.

    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department into the effectiveness of sprinklers, fire ventilation and other fire protection measures in very large low-rise buildings; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Baldry
    My Department has carried out research over a number of years into many aspects of sprinkler performance, fire ventilation and other fire protection
    571
    measures. The knowledge gained from this work has informed the recently completed review of the technical content of building regulations, and has provided the basis for most of the guidance available to designers on such systems. This guidance includes methods applicable to very large low-rise buildings. The Department will continue to support work in these areas to improve our understanding of the processes involved, and to develop and refine the guidance available to designers and enforcing authorities.

    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers are available to local authorities to require measures to assist fire fighters, such as sprinklers and fire ventilation in very large low-rise buildings.

    Mr. Baldry
    The Building Regulations 1991, made under the Building Act 1984, require provision to be made for access and facilities for the fire service. The functional requirement is set out in schedule 1 of the building regulations, under part B5. The requirements to provide adequate means of escape—B1—and to address the dangers of internal and external fire spread—B2, B3, B4—also assist fire fighters. In some parts of England and Wales local Acts contain provisions which also have a bearing on assistance to fire fighters.

    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Building Regulations 1991 to require the provision of sprinklers and fire ventilation in very large low-rise buildings.

    Mr. Baldry
    A major review of the building regulations and associated technical guidance on fire safety has just been completed. There are no plans to amend the regulations on the lines suggested.

    Mr. Denham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement regarding the appropriate fire protection measures required in very large low-rise buildings.

    Mr. Baldry
    The latest approved document on fire safety, published by HMSO in December 1991, gives guidance on fire protection measures appropriate to satisfy the requirements of the Building Regulations. Other Government Departments issue guidance on the measures necessary to satisfy other legislative requirements. Guidance on measures to reduce property fire losses has recently been published by the Loss Prevention Council.

    Dittiscombe Equestrian Centre
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the appeal by the Dittiscombe equestrian centre, Dittiscombe, Slapton, south Devon, against the level of business rate will be heard; when it was first lodged; and what is the reason for the time taken for the hearing.

    Mr. Robin Squire
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The proposal dated 2 August 1990 was received as an appeal by the Devon valuation tribunal on 4 January 1991 and is provisionally listed for hearing on 9 November 1992.

    Following revaluation on 1 April 1990, the tribunal initially received more than 10,000 list appeals. Most of these were received towards the end of that financial year and by the end of April 1992 some 4,000 had been resolved.
    572
    Valuation tribunals are independent bodies and the priority and timing of cases is primarily a matter for them. In general, tribunals are adopting a systematic approach to the settlement of cases, with a view to establishing a common level of value for classes of property in particular locations in the 1990 rating list. This means mainly concentrating on more significant cases which could have a bearing on the assessments of similar properties in the same area, and provide many ratepayers with sufficient evidence to enable them to settle their cases by agreement.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Trade Gap
    Mr. Peter Ainsworth
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government expects to publish their response to the second report from the Agriculture Committee of Session 1991–92, on the trade gap in food and drink; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gummer
    The Government's response is published today, and copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

    I welcome the report of the Select Committee as a valuable contribution to the debate on the trade gap. It supports the Government's view that collaboration between producers is the best way for them to produce what the market wants, and that close collaboration is also needed between producers, processors and retailers.

    The Government are addressing these needs through the group marketing grant which they introduced in April. We believe that it can make a real contribution to improved marketing at home and abroad.

    I am delighted that the marketing initiative is moving forward on such a broad front. Food from Britain is working with us on the group marketing grant and will certainly have a role to play in other ways too. The National Farmers Union has its own Food from the Countryside programme and regional food fairs are planned. Several food and retail companies are sponsoring the three-year initiative with Strathclyde university on improving opportunities for British suppliers. there has never been so much interest in this subject, and I am sure that working together we can make a real impact.

    The response acknowledges that the Committee and the Government are in agreement that intra Community trade in agriculture produce should be conducted on a fair footing. However, the Government do not accept that the taxpayer should offset the cost of national food safety or animal welfare measures, since these are ultimately of benefit to the industries concerned. For the same reason the Government do not feel that an increase in its contribution to Food from Britain is justified at present. The Government agrees with the importance which the Select Committee places on marketing and collaboration.

    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will now review his policy about not slaughtering the offspring of BSE-infected cattle;

    (2) if he will make available in the Library the results of the research funded by his Ministry into the genetic link with BSE conducted by Dr. Wijeratne and that carried out

    573
    by his Central Veterinary Laboratory into the same topic; and whether he will convene the Tyrrell committee to assess the findings of this research.

    Mr. Gummer
    The work by Dr. Wijeratne and colleagues into a genetic susceptibility to BSE is not complete. When it is, the outcome will be published without delay.

    The Tyrrell committee is well aware of this research and of progress on it. Preliminary results so far show only that in one breed there appear to be some cows with an inherited increased susceptibility to BSE. This does not mean that BSE is a genetic disease. In addition, increased susceptibility is irrelevant if an animal is not exposed to infection.

    The Government's policy of slaughtering affected animals and banning the feeding of ruminant derived protein is already designed to ensure that cattle are not exposed to the source of infection. All the evidence indicates that other possible sources of infection, particularly maternal or horizontal infection, will have little or no effect on the epidemic. There is therefore no justification for a calf slaughter policy or further control measures.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times the Tyrrell committee has met each year since 1989.

    Mr. Gummer
    Seven times in 1990, six in 1991 and on three occasions so far this year.

    Farmers Charter
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has produced a charter for farmers; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gummer
    I shall be announcing shortly my Department's contribution to the implementation of the principles of the citizens charter, for the benefit of consumers as well as farmers.

    Whaling
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 642, when he expects to announce Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the French proposal for an Antarctic whale sanctuary; whether he is awaiting scientific advice on that proposal; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gummer
    The French proposal for an Antarctic whale sanctuary addresses a number of issues to the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee, now in session at Glasgow. This is an interesting proposal; we shall need to consider the scientists' advice on it when available; and we will take full part in the IWC's deliberations about it at the 44th annual meeting in Glasgow from 29 June to 3 July.

    CAP Reform
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for CAP reform during the British presidency of the EC.

    Mr. Curry
    We aim to carry forward the process of CAP reform by ensuring, in particular, that all necessary 574
    action is taken to implement the measures agreed on 21 May and by seeking agreement on reform of the EC regimes for sugar and wine, on consolidation of the rules on milk quotas and on a new agrimonetary system.

    Eggs
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what egg marketing regulations are applicable in England and Wales for the sale of duck and goose eggs; if the sale of these eggs is affected by any European Community regulations; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Curry
    Duck and goose eggs are outside the scope of the EC regulations on egg marketing standards. There are no United Kingdom marketing regulations relating to the sale of duck and goose eggs.

    Compensation
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in establishing regional quantities for determining compensation in the arable sector and for the beef special premium.

    Mr. Curry
    In the arable sector, the area on which cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and set-aside payments are made will be reduced in-year and an additional, uncompensated set-aside requirement will be imposed the following year if the regional base area is exceeded. The regional base area will be equal to the average of cereals, oilseeds and protein production and set-aside for 1989, 1990 and 1991. Regional boundaries will be established once the necessary Commission implementing regulations have been agreed.

    Beef special premium payments will be reduced if, in respect of applications for the premium payment on young animals, the regional ceiling is exceeded. In determining the level of regional ceilings, member states may take the number of animals on which premium was claimed in 1990, 1991 and 1992. The make-up of regions and the choice of reference year will be decided once implementing regulations have been agreed.

    Sheep Dips
    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the number and efficacy of non-organophosphorous sheep dips.

    Mr. Soames
    Three non-organophosphorous sheep dip products are currently licensed but, along with other sheep dips, these are currently subject to review by the Veterinary Products Committee. Data have been requested from the industry, and these must demonstrate that modern standards of safety, quality and efficacy are met before reviewed licences can be issued.

    Fur Farms
    Mr. Bowden
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ban fur factory farming of wild animals.

    Mr. Soames
    The European Commission is expected to issue proposals for Community controls on the keeping of animals for fur.

    Slaughterhouses
    Mr. Colvin
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to ensure there are proper slaughterhouse facilities in the New Forest area, following the closure of the last slaughterhouse in that area as a result of EC directives.

    Mr. Soames
    The Government have no reason to doubt that there will be sufficient slaughtering capacity, either nationally or locally, following implementation of the EC single market requirements on 1 January 1993. It will be for individual slaughterhouse operators to take commercial decisions whether to upgrade their premises to meet the new requirements, which the Government fully support.

    Animal Transport
    Mr. Bowden
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he plans to take to ensure that, as required by article 5.2 of the new EC directive on the protection of animals during transport (19/628/EEC), itineraries are drawn up for animal transport journeys exceeding 24 hours to ensure that the animals are rested and given food and water;

    (2) whether he will require his officials from 1 January 1993 to ensure that the animal welfare requirements of EC directive on the protection of animals during transport (91/628/EEC) have been taken into account before issuing health certificates under directive 90/425/EEC for animals being transported from the United Kingdom to other countries.

    Mr. Soames
    Proposals for the implementation of directive 91/628 are under consideration and will be issued to interested organisations for comment. Further decisions remain to be taken in the Community on the resting, feeding and watering of animals at appropriate intervals and on the arrangements for certification.

    Agriculture Council
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held on 15 and 16 June.

    Mr. Gummer
    I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council together with my hon. Friend the Minister of State in my Department.

    As regards rabies, strict conditions were agreed for the commercial import of dogs and cats into the United Kingdom from 1 July 1994. Imports will be limited to registered traders, and involve vaccination and a blood test to authenticate its success; tight controls will be imposed on the origin, transport, destination and identification of the animals concerned. These arrangements are at least as strict as our present quarantine arrangements. It was also agreed that if any proposal is made to change quarantine requirements for pets it must provide at least the same level of protection as for traded animals. This represents a most satisfactory result on what was potentially one of the most serious problems of the single market.

    The Council adopted a directive on milk hygiene which sets strict standards for production and trade in milk and milk products. This represents a further useful step towards the single market. However, allowance is also made for the manufacture of products with traditional characteristics such as soft cheeses. This responds entirely satisfactorily to concerns that were widely expressed that the directive could render such products unmarketable.

    The Council discussed certain details of the CAP reform package agreed last month. I stressed there could be no question of amending that agreement to provide concessions for certain countries. Implementing texts are expected to be adopted at the next meeting of the Council which will now start on 30 June.

  SCOTLAND

    Learning Difficulties
    Ms. Lynne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been allocated in joint finance money to the health service in Scotland; and what proportion has been spent on projects for people with learning disabilities.

    Mr. Stewart
    The information requested is not held centrally. Revenue expenditure allocations to health boards are not earmarked for specific purposes and it is for health boards themselves to determine how much will be spent on joint finance projects.

    Uniform Business Rate
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by local authority the current percentage rate of community charge outstanding in respect of the uniform business rate.

    Mr. Stewart
    The information requested is not held centrally.

    Kingston Bridge, Glasgow
    Mr. David Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the daily vehicle capacity for which the Kingston bridge, Glasgow, was designed; and what is the latest available estimate of daily vehicle usage.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    The anticipated daily vehicle flows and current estimated daily vehicle usage at the Kingston bridge, Glasgow are matters for Strathclyde regional council as the local roads authority responsible for the bridge.

    Market Testing
    Mr. McAllion
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

    Mr. Lang
    I am currently considering the market testing programme for my Department.

    Football Grounds
    Mr. Chisholm
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will allow standing room to be retained at Scottish football grounds.

    Sir Hector Monro
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 4 June 1992 at columns 627–28.

    Housing Expenditure
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of local authorities qualifying for housing support grant and the total housing support grant expenditure expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) at 1990–91 prices; and if he will provide a breakdown for each of the local authorities in receipt of housing support grant for each year since 1979, inclusive.
    578
    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    The housing support grant payable to individual local authorities in each financial year since 1979–80, expressed in cash terms and in real terms at 1990–91 prices is shown in the tables:

    Housing support grant (expressed in cash terms)

    Area

    1979–80

    1980–81

    Scotland

    213,400,000

    228,200,000

    Berwickshire

    1,304,502

    1,306,875

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    1,725,856

    1,753,749

    Roxburgh

    1,734,338

    1,971,598

    Tweeddale

    289,209

    285,768

    Clackmannan

    1,850,234

    1,818,745

    Falkirk

    7,957,349

    7,479,143

    Stirling

    1,929,781

    1,916,151

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,094,232

    1,452,108

    Nithsdale

    1,147,826

    905,200

    Stewartry

    548,774

    676,321

    Wigtown

    1,046,584

    1,154,830

    Dunfermline

    5,391,353

    6,079,270

    Kirkcaldy

    6,303,279

    6,500,216

    North East Fife

    1,586,114

    1,664,141

    Aberdeen

    9,749,391

    10,733,105

    Banff and Buchan

    4,966,010

    5,495,862

    Gordon

    2,857,278

    2,860,784

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,304,661

    1,373,533

    Moray

    4,237,483

    4,402,062

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    413,089

    470,225

    Caithness

    1,231,796

    1,044,456

    Inverness

    2,461,414

    2,323,484

    Lochaber

    1,860,212

    1,825,267

    Nairn

    320,089

    351,660

    Ross and Cromarty

    3,889,456

    4,249,933

    Skye and Lochalsh

    342,729

    343,792

    Sutherland

    674,923

    729,163

    East Lothian

    4,723,964

    5,062,507

    Edinburgh

    11,269,405

    12,517,913

    Midlothian

    3,496,811

    3,334,405

    West Lothian

    4,655,453

    4,796,099

    Argyll and Bute

    3,410,909

    3,565,946

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    464,877

    458,385

    Clydebank

    3,548,652

    4,032,786

    Clydesdale

    1,842,814

    1,651,898

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    677,835

    670,398

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    1,982,826

    1,812,670

    Cunninghame

    4,800,670

    4,656,897

    Dumbarton

    2,997,918

    2,805,151

    East Kilbride

    327,324

    340,284

    Eastwood

    282,503

    303,824

    Glasgow

    41,496,149

    49,487,984

    Hamilton

    4,960,259

    5,015,434

    Inverclyde

    5,602,776

    6,140,965

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    3,584,819

    4,168,590

    Kyle and Carrick

    4,422,325

    4,351,786

    Monklands

    4,601,208

    4,359,605

    Motherwell

    7,919,644

    8,193,225

    Renfrew

    6,486,220

    6,571,032

    Strathkelvin

    1,956,176

    2,401,186

    Angus

    4,236,548

    4,372,617

    Dundee

    7,740,698

    8,602,017

    Perth and Kinross

    3,502,848

    3,118,176

    Orkney

    1,074,091

    1,103,278

    Shetland

    2,099,598

    1,889,843

    Western Isles

    1,016,718

    1,247,658

    Area

    1981–82

    1982–83

    Scotland

    161,900,000

    104,632,870

    Berwickshire

    1,038,356

    686,226

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    1,154,679

    552,583

    Roxburgh

    1,537,295

    1,165,695

    Tweeddale

    109,055

    0

    Clackmannan

    1,283,981

    689,627

    Falkirk

    4,428,554

    1,494,309

    579

    Area

    1981–82

    1982–83

    Stirling

    1,016,562

    1,335,195

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,272,965

    1,387,048

    Nithsdale

    100

    0

    Stewartry

    542,539

    412,797

    Wigtown

    767,726

    452,325

    Dunfermline

    2,800,067

    683,115

    Kirkcaldy

    3,077,166

    696,260

    North East Fife

    979,538

    829,197

    Aberdeen

    9,533,966

    7,089,761

    Banff and Buchan

    4,343,622

    3,306,069

    Gordon

    2,379,107

    2,240,622

    Kincardine and Deeside

    933,388

    817,907

    Moray

    3,552,254

    2,301,798

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    435,542

    505,386

    Caithness

    876,132

    817,378

    Inverness

    1,631,231

    1,375,208

    Lochaber

    1,813,360

    1,383,564

    Nairn

    251,993

    206,063

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,199,542

    3,493,364

    Skye and Lochalsh

    316,747

    316,309

    Sutherland

    519,316

    477,942

    East Lothian

    3,155,554

    2,079,858

    Edinburgh

    7,869,440

    2,327,904

    Midlothian

    1,791,607

    906,746

    West Lothian

    2,182,016

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    2,811,692

    2,767,417

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    193,589

    0

    Clydebank

    3,285,203

    2,201,808

    Clydesdale

    578,477

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    117,762

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    819,727

    167,191

    Cunninghame

    2,744,500

    745,237

    Dumbarton

    1,177,708

    0

    East Kilbride

    98,060

    0

    Eastwood

    15,462

    0

    Glasgow

    44,099,691

    37,292,928

    Hamilton

    3,243,635

    1,543,988

    Inverclyde

    4,443,201

    3,048,261

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    1,885,952

    298,335

    Kyle and Carrick

    2,807,798

    911,439

    Monklands

    4,252,050

    3,222,528

    Motherwell

    5,737,727

    3,296,551

    Renfrew

    2,186,158

    0

    Strathkelvin

    1,539,073

    1,198,935

    Angus

    2,499,757

    1,221,795

    Dundee

    5,285,879

    1,820,168

    Perth and Kinross

    1,309,294

    0

    Orkney

    1,082,222

    852,422

    Shetland

    2,624,591

    2,654,652

    Western Isles

    1,267,392

    1,358,959

    Area

    1983–84

    1984–85

    Scotland

    72,135,479

    67,211,241

    Berwickshire

    648,884

    486,805

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    373,420

    107,262

    Roxburgh

    1,260,321

    1,265,786

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    45,021

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    20,431

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,574,069

    1,673,013

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    414,643

    359,095

    Wigtown

    255,317

    200,315

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    309,583

    87,427

    Aberdeen

    3,724,702

    3,053,523

    Banff and Buchan

    2,437,206

    1,943,394

    Gordon

    1,709,877

    1,940,317

    Kincardine and Deeside

    972,194

    854,052

    Moray

    1,987,151

    1,790,081

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    515,570

    487,297

    Caithness

    819,544

    826,248

    580

    Area

    1983–84

    1984–85

    Inverness

    1,241,308

    1,305,145

    Lochaber

    1,334,449

    1,225,81

    Nairn

    265,393

    227,117

    Ross and Cromarty

    3,091,946

    3,241,650

    Skye and Lochalsh

    323,325

    394,993

    Sutherland

    446,107

    467,987

    East Lothian

    1,050,527

    392,369

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    2,554,514

    2,308,945

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    0

    0

    Clydebank

    1,855,408

    1,774,590

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    32,355,851

    32,269,404

    Hamilton

    119,816

    0

    Inverclyde

    1,865,250

    1,162,804

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    447,952

    0

    Monklands

    1,705,278

    1,956,032

    Motherwell

    1,037,418

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    326,922

    2,775

    Angus

    181,321

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    731,864

    779,233

    Shetland

    2,409,052

    2,764,219

    Western Isles

    1,723,845

    1,863,547

    Area

    1985–86

    1986–87

    Scotland

    64,178,219

    44,469,760

    Berwickshire

    446,429

    201,135

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,306,156

    951,730

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,759,500

    1,382,490

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    343,400

    253,704

    Wigtown

    95,565

    0

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    2,260,303

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    1,599,685

    558,241

    Gordon

    1,800,235

    1,838,802

    Kincardine and Deeside

    942,305

    779,199

    Moray

    1,509,258

    682,537

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    497,879

    388,218

    Caithness

    750,997

    663,077

    Inverness

    1,510,450

    1,033,853

    Lochaber

    1,398,166

    1,441,327

    Nairn

    218,689

    181,633

    Ross and Cromarty

    3,474,516

    3,178,298

    Skye and Lochalsh

    467,318

    586,754

    Sutherland

    518,431

    522,874

    East Lothian

    23,235

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    2,155,278

    1,373,972

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    0

    0

    Clydebank

    1,778,773

    804,237

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    581

    Area

    1985–86

    1986–87

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    32,675,646

    21,891,239

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    562,537

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    328,169

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    804,942

    684,343

    Shetland

    2,778,672

    2,934,933

    Western Isles

    2,171,685

    2,137,164

    Area

    1987–88

    1988–89

    Scotland

    41,917,523

    54,631,469

    Berwickshire

    225,306

    91,417

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,115,301

    1,124,908

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,337,917

    1,557,353

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    386,158

    413,062

    Wigtown

    265,382

    410,486

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    617,681

    246,862

    Gordon

    2,723,337

    3,276,799

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,267,315

    1,617,844

    Moray

    982,346

    614,211

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    462,702

    384,299

    Caithness

    759,297

    1,012,850

    Inverness

    1,157,218

    1,370,584

    Lochaber

    1,396,801

    1,800,599

    Nairn

    209,500

    274,618

    Ross and Cromarty

    3,339,315

    3,793,708

    Skye and Lochalsh

    789,606

    985,932

    Sutherland

    643,801

    796,808

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    1,709,251

    1,586,284

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    51,224

    124,971

    Clydebank

    786,456

    1,031,201

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    63,514

    33,496

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    15,116,893

    24,660,513

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    0

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    582

    Area

    1987–88

    1988–89

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    743,450

    850,377

    Shetland

    3,172,405

    3,677,667

    Western Isles

    2,595,347

    2,894,620

    Area

    1989–90

    1990–91

    Scotland

    65,296,686

    57,963,694

    Berwickshire

    48,841

    0

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,339,141

    1,321,472

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,684,048

    1,504,110

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    509,240

    436,944

    Wigtown

    551,246

    600,795

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    136,886

    0

    Gordon

    3,788,264

    3,792,482

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,922,521

    1,882,382

    Moray

    528,935

    0

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    393,499

    386,736

    Caithness

    1,229,421

    1,330,831

    Inverness

    1,949,824

    1,934,977

    Lochaber

    2,148,759

    2,398,530

    Nairn

    344,628

    350,804

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,154,244

    4,231,891

    Skye and Lochalsh

    1,203,495

    1,303,836

    Sutherland

    969,864

    1,006,044

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    1,775,900

    1,041,664

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    278,995

    317,125

    Clydebank

    1,010,546

    650,646

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    30,697,621

    24,536,123

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    0

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    776,917

    783,399

    Shetland

    4,112,702

    4,393,805

    Western Isles

    3,741,152

    3,757,098

    Area

    1991–92

    1992–93

    Scotland

    55,435,945

    47,470,415

    Berwickshire

    0

    0

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,139,087

    726,723

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    583

    Area

    1991–92

    1992–93

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    91,878

    123,120

    Stirling

    132,696

    116,455

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,288,127

    1,151,985

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    175,842

    208,499

    Wigtown

    455,431

    360,746

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    0

    0

    Gordon

    3,808,288

    3,598,836

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,828,221

    1,587,282

    Moray

    0

    0

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    330,314

    326,070

    Caithness

    1,249,076

    1,161,797

    Inverness

    1,657,779

    1,299,935

    Lochaber

    2,463,394

    2,315,434

    Nairn

    306,917

    246,839

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,159,560

    4,060,836

    Skye and Lochalsh

    1,343,234

    1,339,757

    Sutherland

    992,735

    853,085

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    Edinburgh

    526,144

    535,752

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    618,210

    315,749

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    301,748

    73,749

    Clydebank

    438,557

    150,464

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    7,774

    10,760

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    61,626

    100,892

    Eastwood

    8,108

    11,583

    Glasgow

    22,687,417

    17,400,837

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    153,317

    169,044

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    2,382

    15,273

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    6,720

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    28,488

    36,735

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    29,303

    27,462

    Orkney

    639,138

    359,131

    Shetland

    4,603,666

    4,592,216

    Western Isles

    3,907,490

    4,186,649

    Housing support grant (expressed in real terms)

    Area

    1979–80

    1980–81

    Scotland

    463,067,442

    418,454,542

    Berwickshire

    2,830,705

    2,396,441

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    3,745,022

    3,215,882

    Roxburgh

    3,763,428

    3,615,356

    Tweeddale

    627,569

    524,018

    Clackmannan

    4,014,916

    3,335,066

    Falkirk

    17,267,054

    13,714,642

    Stirling

    4,187,529

    3,513,681

    Annandale and Eskdale

    2,374,429

    2,662,757

    Nithsdale

    2,490,726

    1,659,882

    Stewartry

    1,190,812

    1,240,182

    Wigtown

    2,271,036

    2,117,633

    Dunfermline

    11,698,969

    11,147,669

    Kirkcaldy

    13,677,804

    11,919,566

    North East Fife

    3,441,789

    3,051,566

    Aberdeen

    21,155,696

    19,681,492

    Banff and Buchan

    10,775,996

    10,077,863

    Gordon

    6,200,152

    5,245,872

    584

    Area

    1979–80

    1980–81

    Kincardine and Deeside

    2,831,050

    2,518,673

    Moray

    9,195,128

    8,072,142

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    896,383

    862,260

    Caithness

    2,672,936

    1,915,238

    Inverness

    5,341,147

    4,260,615

    Lochaber

    4,036,568

    3,347,026

    Nairn

    694,577

    644,845

    Ross and Cromarty

    8,439,927

    7,793,180

    Skye and Lochalsh

    743,705

    630,418

    Sutherland

    1,464,550

    1,337,080

    East Lothian

    10,250,768

    9,283,212

    Edinburgh

    24,454,051

    22,954,328

    Midlothian

    7,587,907

    6,114,360

    West Lothian

    10,102,103

    8,794,695

    Argyll and Bute

    7,401,504

    6,538,941

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    1,008,760

    840,549

    Clydebank

    7,700,399

    7,394,994

    Clydesdale

    3,998,815

    3,029,116

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    1,470,868

    1,229,321

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    4,302,634

    3,323,926

    Cunninghame

    10,417,216

    8,539,438

    Dumbarton

    6,505,334

    5,143,857

    East Kilbride

    710,277

    623,985

    Eastwood

    613,018

    557,128

    Glasgow

    90,044,590

    90,747,028

    Hamilton

    10,763,517

    9,196,894

    Inverclyde

    12,157,747

    11,260,801

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    7,778,880

    7,644,020

    Kyle and Carrick

    9,596,226

    7,979,950

    Monklands

    9,984,394

    7,994,288

    Motherwell

    17,185,236

    15,024,068

    Renfrew

    14,074,776

    12,049,422

    Strathkelvin

    4,244,805

    4,403,099

    Angus

    9,193,100

    8,018,148

    Dundee

    16,796,932

    15,773,677

    Perth and Kinross

    7,601,007

    5,717,857

    Orkney

    2,330,724

    2,023,101

    Shetland

    4,556,024

    3,465,440

    Western Isles

    2,206,228

    2,287,853

    Area

    1981–82

    1982–83

    Scotland

    270,740,313

    163,338,282

    Berwickshire

    1,736,410

    1,071,241

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    1,930,934

    862,616

    Roxburgh

    2,570,770

    1,819,721

    Tweeddale

    182,369

    0

    Clackmannan

    2,147,161

    1,076,550

    Falkirk

    7,405,733

    2,332,707

    Stirling

    1,699,965

    2,084,321

    Annandale and Eskdale

    2,128,740

    2,165,266

    Nithsdale

    167

    0

    Stewartry

    907,271

    644,401

    Wigtown

    1,283,844

    706,107

    Dunfermline

    4,682,465

    1,066,384

    Kirkcaldy

    5,145,849

    1,086,904

    North East Fife

    1,638,051

    1,294,427

    Aberdeen

    15,943,354

    11,067,549

    Banff and Buchan

    7,263,703

    5,160,975

    Gordon

    3,978,506

    3,497,747

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,560,876

    1,276,803

    Moray

    5,940,323

    3,593,247

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    728,343

    788,938

    Caithness

    1,465,128

    1,275,977

    Inverness

    2,727,857

    2,146,783

    Lochaber

    3,032,425

    2,159,828

    Nairn

    421,400

    321,677

    Ross and Cromarty

    7,022,763

    5,453,354

    Skye and Lochalsh

    529,686

    493,778

    Sutherland

    868,436

    746,097

    East Lothian

    5,276,934

    3,246,785

    Edinburgh

    13,159,819

    3,634,000

    Midlothian

    2,996,048

    1,415,486

    West Lothian

    3,648,917

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    4,701,905

    4,320,106

    585

    Area

    1981–82

    1982–83

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    323,733

    0

    Clydebank

    5,493,742

    3,437,156

    Clydesdale

    967,369

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    196,930

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    1,370,804

    260,995

    Cunninghame

    4,589,542

    1,163,360

    Dumbarton

    1,969,444

    0

    East Kilbride

    163,983

    0

    Eastwood

    25,857

    0

    Glasgow

    73,746,536

    58,216,532

    Hamilton

    5,424,230

    2,410,259

    Inverclyde

    7,430,226

    4,758,521

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    3,153,819

    465,719

    Kyle and Carrick

    4,695,393

    1,422,812

    Monklands

    7,110,570

    5,030,562

    Motherwell

    9,595,022

    5,146,117

    Renfrew

    3,655,844

    0

    Strathkelvin

    2,573,744

    1.871,611

    Angus

    4,180,266

    1,907,296

    Dundee

    8,839,410

    2,841,393

    Perth and Kinross

    2,189,491

    0

    Orkney

    1,809,766

    1,330,683

    Shetland

    4,389,022

    4,144,073

    Western Isles

    2,119,420

    2,121,418

    Area

    1983–84

    1984–85

    Scotland

    97,228,171

    95,496,286

    Berwickshire

    968,079

    691,671

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    502,828

    152,402

    Roxburgh

    1,697,082

    1.798,477

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    60,623

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    27,511

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    2,119,559

    2,377,080

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    558.336

    510,216

    Wigtown

    343,796

    284,615

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    416.868

    124,220

    Aberdeen

    5,015,488

    4,338,562

    Banff and Buchan

    3,281,814

    2,761,248

    Gordon

    2,302.431

    2,756,876

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,309,105

    1,213,470

    Moray

    2,675,793

    2,543,415

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    694,239

    692,370

    Caithness

    1,103.555

    1,173,965

    Inverness

    1,671,480

    1,854,400

    Lochaber

    1,796,899

    1,741,686

    Nairn

    357,364

    322,696

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,163,452

    4,605,860

    Skye and Lochalsh

    435,372

    561,221

    Sutherland

    600,704

    664,934

    East Lothian

    1,414,584

    557,493

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    3,439,774

    3,280,637

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    0

    0

    Clydebank

    2,498,395

    2,521,405

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    43,568,689

    45,849,596

    Hamilton

    161,338

    0

    Inverclyde

    2,511,648

    1,652,156

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    603,189

    0

    Monklands

    2,296,238

    2,779,205

    586

    Area

    1983–84

    1984–85

    Motherwell

    1,396,933

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    440,216

    3,943

    Angus

    244,157

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    985,490

    1,107,164

    Shetland

    3,243,903

    3,927,507

    Western Isles

    2,321,239

    2,647,798

    Area

    1985–861

    1986–87

    Scotland

    86,419,017

    57,973,536

    Berwickshire

    601,138

    262,212

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,758,801

    1,240,734

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    2,369,250

    1,802,300

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    462,404

    330,744

    Wigtown

    128,683

    0

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    3,043,605

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    2,154,052

    727,758

    Gordon

    2,424,102

    2,397,176

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,268,858

    1,015,812

    Moray

    2,032,288

    889,798

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    670,418

    506,105

    Caithness

    1,011,253

    864,428

    Inverness

    2,033,893

    1,347,795

    Lochaber

    1,882,697

    1,879,003

    Nairn

    294,475

    236,788

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,678,601

    4,143,426

    Skye and Lochalsh

    629,266

    764,929

    Sutherland

    698,092

    681,651

    East Lothian

    31,287

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    2,902,184

    1,791,195

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    0

    0

    Clydebank

    2,395,202

    1,048,453

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    43,999,308

    28,538,776

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    757,483

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    441,895

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    1,083,893

    892,152

    Shetland

    3,741,614

    3,826,161

    Western Isles

    2,924,277

    2,786,139

    587

    Area

    1987–88

    1988–89

    Scotland

    51,828,731

    62,996,816

    Berwickshire

    278,579

    105,415

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,379,009

    1,297,158

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,654,261

    1,795,820

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    477,463

    476,311

    Wigtown

    328,130

    473,341

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    763,729

    284,662

    Gordon

    3,367,258

    3,778,553

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,566,966

    1,865,574

    Moray

    1,214,617

    708,261

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    572,106

    443,144

    Caithness

    938,829

    1,167,941

    Inverness

    1,430,837

    1,580,452

    Lochaber

    1,727,068

    2,076,313

    Nairn

    259,035

    316,668

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,128,881

    4,374,613

    Skye and Lochalsh

    976,305

    1,136,901

    Sutherland

    796,025

    918,818

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    2,113,396

    1,829,181

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    63,336

    144,107

    Clydebank

    972,410

    1,189,102

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    78,532

    38,625

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    18,691,214

    28,436,611

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    0

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    919,235

    980,589

    Shetland

    3,922,506

    4,240,803

    Western Isles

    3,209,005

    3,337,854

    Area

    1989–90

    1990–91

    Scotland

    70,644,473

    57,963,694

    Berwickshire

    52,841

    0

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    1,448,816

    1,321,472

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    0

    0

    Stirling

    0

    0

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,821,971

    1,504,110

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    550,947

    436,944

    Wigtown

    596,393

    600,795

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    588

    Area

    1989–90

    1990–91

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    148,094

    0

    Gordon

    4,098,522

    3,792,482

    Kincardine and Deeside

    2,079,975

    1,882,382

    Moray

    572

    0

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    425,726

    386,736

    Caithness

    1,330,110

    1,330,831

    Inverness

    2,109,514

    1,934,977

    Lochaber

    2,324,742

    2,398,530

    Nairn

    372,853

    350,804

    Ross and Cromarty

    4,494,476

    4,231,891

    Skye and Lochalsh

    1,302,061

    1,303,836

    Sutherland

    1,049,296

    1,006,044

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    Edinburgh

    0

    0

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    1,921,346

    1,041,664

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    301,845

    317,125

    Clydebank

    1,093,310

    650,646

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    0

    0

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    0

    0

    Eastwood

    0

    0

    Glasgow

    33,211,751

    24,536,123

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    Inverclyde

    0

    0

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    0

    0

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    0

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    0

    0

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    07

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    0

    0

    Orkney

    840,546

    783,399

    Shetland

    449,532

    4,395,805

    Western Isles

    4,047,552

    3,757,098

    Area

    1991–92

    1992–93

    Scotland

    48,083,080

    39,400,746

    Berwickshire

    0

    0

    Ettrick and Lauderdale

    0

    0

    Roxburgh

    988,001

    603,185

    Tweeddale

    0

    0

    Clackmannan

    0

    0

    Falkirk

    79,692

    102,191

    Stirling

    115,096

    96,659

    Annandale and Eskdale

    1,117,274

    956,155

    Nithsdale

    0

    0

    Stewartry

    152,519

    173,055

    Wigtown

    395,024

    299,421

    Dunfermline

    0

    0

    Kirkcaldy

    0

    0

    North East Fife

    0

    0

    Aberdeen

    0

    0

    Banff and Buchan

    0

    0

    Gordon

    3,303,168

    2,987,057

    Kincardine and Deeside

    1,585,731

    1,317,454

    Moray

    0

    0

    Badenoch and Strathspey

    286,502

    270,640

    Caithness

    1,083,402

    964,299

    Inverness

    1,437,896

    1,078,954

    Lochaber

    2,136,656

    1,921,825

    Nairn

    266,208

    204,878

    Ross and Cromarty

    3,607,848

    3,370,519

    Skye and Lochalsh

    1,165,072

    1,112,006

    Sutherland

    861,061

    708,066

    East Lothian

    0

    0

    589

    Area

    1991–92

    1992–93

    Edinburgh

    456,358

    444,677

    Midlothian

    0

    0

    West Lothian

    0

    0

    Argyll and Bute

    536,213

    262,074

    Bearsden and Milngavie

    261,725

    61,212

    Clydebank

    380,388

    124,886

    Clydesdale

    0

    0

    Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

    0

    0

    Cumnock and Doon Valley

    0

    0

    Cunninghame

    6,743

    8,931

    Dumbarton

    0

    0

    East Kilbride

    53,452

    83,741

    Eastwood

    7,033

    9,614

    Glasgow

    19,678,223

    14,442,806

    Hamilton

    0

    0

    lnverclyde

    132,981

    140,308

    Kilmarnock and Loudoun

    2,066

    12,676

    Kyle and Carrick

    0

    5,578

    Monklands

    0

    0

    Motherwell

    0

    0

    Renfrew

    24,709

    30,490

    Strathkelvin

    0

    0

    Angus

    0

    0

    Dundee

    0

    0

    Perth and Kinross

    25,416

    22,794

    Orkney

    554,364

    298,081

    Shetland

    3,993,049

    3,811,569

    Western Isles

    3,389,211

    3,474,946

    Homelessness
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation for homeless persons for each year since 1979; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    The information requested is not held centrally.

    Data Protection
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Lang
    [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Officials are aware of the need to consult the registrar about proposed legislation or other initiatives that may affect or be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, and will consult him as necessary when planning the collection, use or disclosure of automated personal data.

    Aircraft Noise
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the noise insulation of schools in the vicinity of military airports.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967–1979 place a duty on education authorities to secure that every part of a school building under their management shall have acoustic conditions and insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to the use for which the part of the building is designed.
    590
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has commissioned into the effects on the teaching of pupils in schools in the vicinity of military airports as a result of aircraft noise.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    [holding answer 16 June 1992: None.

    Rents
    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in public sector rents in real and constant price terms since 1979 in Scotland.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The increase between average weekly public sector rents in 1979–80—expressed at 1992–93 prices, using GDP deflators and such rents in 1992–93—was as follows:

    £

    Local Authority

    11.94

    SSHA/Scottish Homes

    14.94

    New Towns

    11.18

    Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
    Mrs. Fyfe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average length of time it takes to have a case heard by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Scotland.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The annual reports of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board give details of time taken to resolve cases. Copies of the reports are available in the Library. Separate details for Scottish cases are not available.

    Mrs. Fyfe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board may make an award in cases where the procurator fiscal has not brought charges, and the accused does not admit the offences.

    Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
    [holding answer 16 June 1992]: Yes.

    Employment Training
    Mr. Worthington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were eligible for employment training in each of the years since it started in Scotland.

    Mr. Stewart
    [holding answer 16 June 1992:] The information is not available in the form requested. Those aged between 18 and 59 and registered as unemployed for six months or more are eligible for employment training. Certain groups are also eligible if they have not been unemployed for six months—for example, people with disabilities, lone parents, returners to the labour market, ex-regulars and people seeking skill shortage training; data is available in respect of the long-term unemployed only, as set out in the table.

    Registered number unemployed for six months and over in Scotland

    Number

    January 1989

    150,500

    January 1990

    119,600

    January 1991

    104,800

    January 1992

    122,200

    Hospitals (Assaults)
    Mr. Colvin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in Scotland where(a) staff and (b) patients have been assaulted by other patients or members of the general public in the last six months; and if he will provide the statistics of these assaults.

    Mr. Stewart
    This information is not held centrally.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Mature Students
    Mr. John Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the number of mature students who have paid national insurance contributions and who are not entitled to claim social security benefits.

    Miss Widdecombe
    People who are in full-time education and have previously paid national insurance contributions are entitled to claim contributory social security benefits apart from unemployment benefit. It is estimated that there are about 280,000 full-time students in England over age 21, but the number of these who have paid national insurance contributions is not known.

    Maxwell Pensioners
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if section 58B of the Social Security Act 1990 will apply to each of the Maxwell-owned pension schemes.

    Miss Widdecombe
    Section 58B will apply to any salary-related pension scheme that is being wound up, or where the employer goes into liquidation.

    Disability Living Allowance
    Mr. Sproat
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the name of the body which adjudicates on appeals against decision on levels of disability living allowance; how many people serve on this body; what are their names; how many of these persons have medical experience; how often the body meets; how many cases are currently waiting to be heard; and how many have been waiting for, respectively, over three months and over six months.

    Mr. Scott
    Disability appeal tribunals adjudicate on appeals against decisions on disability living allowance. The administration of these tribunals is the responsibility of the president of the independent tribunal service, his honour Judge Holden, and the hon. Member may wish to contact his office direct to obtain this information.

    Mr. Sproat
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delays in hearing appeals on disability living allowances.

    Mr. Scott
    There are no delays in hearing appeals on disability living allowance. If the hon. Member wishes to obtain more detailed information on the time taken to clear appeals he may receive this from the office of his honour Judge Holden, the president of the independent tribunal service, which is responsible for the administration of disability appeal tribunals.

    Severe Disablement Allowance
    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because 196 days of continuous incapacity commenced before their 20th birthday; and what proportion of these were(a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (2) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because of previous receipt of noncontributory invalidity pension; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (3) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance or war pensioners' mobility supplement; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (4) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of a previous assessment under the industrial injuries or war pensions schemes; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (5) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of a vaccine damage payment: and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (6) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of being registered blind or partially sighted; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (7) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of an invalid tricycle, car or car allowance; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (8) how many people in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available became entitled because they were classified as 80 per cent. disabled by adjudicating medical authorities; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (9) how many people were in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the last date for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women.

    Mr. Scott
    Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table. The latest date for which information is available is March 1990. The information is based on a 1 per cent. sample and has been rounded to he nearest 1,000. It is statistically unreliable to express the separate entries as proportions or percentages.
    593

    Severe disablement allowance beneficiaries as at 31 March 1990

    Condition

    Male

    Married Women

    Single Women1

    Total

    Under 20 when incapacity arose

    20,000

    1,000

    15,000

    35,000

    Links with NCIP/HNCIP/SDA

    1,000

    1,000

    1,000

    3,000

    MOB A/AA awarded

    5,000

    15,000

    5,000

    25,000

    Blind/partially sighted

    4

    2,000

    4

    2,000

    Other passport benefit2

    1,000

    1,000

    1,000

    3,000

    Adjudicating medical authorities

    5,000

    10,000

    4,000

    18,000

    Others

    381,000

    43,000

    76,000

    199,000

    Total

    112,000

    71,000

    101,000

    285,000

    Notes:

    1 Single women includes single, divorced and widows.

    2 Other passport benefits include invalid tricycle, car or private car allowance, vaccine damage payments, industrial injuries and war pensions.

    3 Other condition relates to those transferred from NCIP/HNCIP with continuous entitlement.

    4 Figure less than 500.

    Totals may not sum due to rounding.

    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance or war pensioners' mobility supplement; and what proportion of these were(a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (2) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of a vaccine damage payment; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (3) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of receipt of an invalid tricycle, car or car allowance; and what proportion of these were (a) men. (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (4) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because 196 days of continuous incapacity commenced before their 20th birthday; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (5) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of a previous assessment under the industrial injuries or war pensions schemes; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    6) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by virtue of being registered blind or partially sighted; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women;

    (7) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available became entitled because they were deemed 80 per cent. disabled by adjudicating medical authorities; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women:

    (8) how many people awarded severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were (a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women.
    594
    Mr. Scott
    Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table. It is based on a 1 per cent. sample and has been rounded to the nearest 1,000. It is statistically unreliable to express the separate entries as proportions or percentages.

    Severe Disablement Allowance Awards during the period 3 April 1989–31 March 1990

    Condition

    Male

    Married Women

    Single Women1

    Total

    Under 20 when incapacity arose

    5,000

    3—

    4,000

    10,000

    Links with NCIP/HNCIP/SDA

    3—

    3—

    n/a

    3—

    MOB A/AA awarded

    1,000

    3,000

    1,000

    5,000

    Blind/partially sighted

    n/a

    3—

    nla

    3—

    Other passport benefit2

    3—

    3—

    3—

    1,000

    Adjudicating medical authorities

    1,000

    2,000

    1,000

    4,000

    Total

    8,000

    6,000

    6,000

    20,000

    n/a = Not available.

    1 Single women includes single, divorced and widows.

    2 Other passport benefits include invalid tricycle, car or private car allowance, vaccine damage payments, industrial injuries and war pensions.

    3 Figures less than 500.

    Totals may not sum due to rounding.
    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were refused severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available(a) on grounds of age, (b) through failure to pass the incapacity conditions, (c) through failure to pass the 80 per cent. disability test, (d) through failure to satisfy residence and presence conditions and (e) for other reasons; and what proportion in each category were (i) men, (ii) single women and (iii) married women.

    Mr. Scott
    The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people applied for severe disablement allowance in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these were(a) men, (b) single women and (c) married women.

    Mr. Scott
    In 1991–92 almost 64,500 claims were received. Information by gender is not available.

    State Pensions
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receive a state pension in Wales.

    Miss Widdecombe
    In September 1991, 529,000 pensioners received a state pension in Wales.

    Notes:

    (1) Figure rounded to nearest thousand.

    (2) Figure does not include those in receipt of graduated retirement benefit only.

    Pension Law
    Mr. French
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to announce the names of the committee that will examine possible changes in pension law.

    Miss Widdecombe
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to make an announcement soon.

    Benefits
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the(a) administrative costs, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) administrative expenditure as a proportion of expenditure, for (i) supplementary benefit and (ii) single payments for the last three years of their operation.

    Mr. Scott
    Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table:

    £ million

    Year

    1985–86

    1986–87

    1987–88

    (a) Administrative costs1 2

    839

    929

    1,106

    (b) Benefit expenditure 1

    7,377

    7,962

    7,952

    (c) (a) as a percentage of total expenditure

    10.2

    10.4

    12.2

    1 Supplementary benefit and single payments.

    2 Estimate.

    Single Payments
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State Security what was the number and percentage applicants who were awarded single payments three years of their operation; and if he will breakdown by(a) region and (b) DSS office.

    Mr. Scott
    Information is not available in the precise form requested. Single payments could be awarded to people entitled to supplementary benefit. National figures for the number of payments made in each year, and the total number of people receiving supplementary benefit is in the table.

    The number of people who received awards is likely to he significantly lower than the number of payments in any given year, since any one person may have received more than one award.

    Similar information for each office can be derived from information held in the Library.
    596

    Number of payments (000)

    Number of recipients of supplementary benefit (million)

    1985–86

    4,375

    4.8

    1986–87

    4,230

    5.1

    1987–88

    2,750

    5.0

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of claims for single payments which were initially rejected by DSS offices which were the subject of awards following appeal for the last three years of its operation.

    Mr. Scott
    The information is in the table.

    Single payments awarded following Social Security Appeal Tribunal hearings

    Number

    1986

    13,920

    1987

    20,866

    1988

    31,034

    Social Fund
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure of providing(a) maternity payments, (b) funeral expenses and (c) cold weather payments for the past three years expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) in cash terms at 1990–91 prices and (iii) as a percentage of total social security expenditure; and if he will provide a breakdown by (1) region and (2) local DSS office.

    Mr. Scott
    Not all the information requested is readily available and it could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available will he placed in the Library shortly.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department is taking to draw the social fund to the attention of those it has identified as likely to be applicants; and what is the total expenditure involved.

    Mr. Scott
    Information about the Fund is included in general guides to social security published by the Department. There are also two specific leaflets on the fund, numbered SFL2 and SB16. These leaflets have been revised and clarified recently. It is not possible to isolate expenditure on the social fund from other departmental publicity spending.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to alter the eligibility criteria used in making discretionary awards under the social fund; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Scott
    I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 8 June at columns 6-8.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are(a) the administrative costs, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) administrative costs as a proportion of expenditure, for (i) the social fund, (ii) income support and (iii) income support and social fund combined, for each of the social fund's operation;
    597
    (2) what was the total expenditure of administering the social fund expressed (a) in cash terms, (b) at 1990–91 prices and (c) as a percentage of gross social fund expenditure; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office;

    (3) what is the total expenditure of the social fund expressed as a percentage of (a) total social security expenditure and (b) total running costs for each year of its operation.

    Mr. Scott
    Information on social security expenditure and administration costs for 1988–89 to 1990–91 is in the Library. Details of social fund administration costs for 1991–92 are not yet available. Information about administrative costs by region or DSS local office is not available.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications initially rejected by(a) social fund officers and (b) social fund inspectors were the subject of awards following review for each year of its operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

    Mr. Scott
    The information requested about social fund officers' decisions is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Regarding social fund inspectors' decisions, I am informed by the social fund commissioner that information by each local office is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table summarises the data collected by DSS region.

    Region

    1988–89

    1989–90

    1990–91

    1 1991–92

    London North

    —

    0

    10

    25

    London South

    —

    1

    8

    9

    Midlands

    —

    3

    3

    14

    North East

    —

    3

    17

    26

    North West

    —

    1

    11

    26

    Scotland

    —

    0

    9

    47

    Wales and South West

    —

    1

    8

    21

    1 Data for 1991–92 is provisional.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total budget for(a) the social fund, (b) budgeting loans, (c) crisis loans and (d) community care grants and the percentage of each budget which was actually spent for each year of its operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

    Mr. Scott
    Information on social fund allocations and expenditure is in the Library. The allocations for loans are not subdivided for budgeting and crisis loans.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that social fund applicants and potential applicants are made aware of the role of the social fund inspectors;

    (2) what is the estimated cost and time scale for implementing any planned improvements to the computer system which are deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the social fund and the production of reliable performance data;

    (3) what is the level of departmental manpower absorbed by the social fund expressed (a) in numbers and (b) as a percentage of total departmental manpower for each year of its operation.

    Mr. Scott
    The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the 598
    Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

    Loans and Grants
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants were refused(a) budgeting loans, (b) crisis loans and (c) community care grants for each year of their operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

    Mr. Scott
    Information is not available in the form requested.

    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the performance targets in working days which were set for(a) budgeting loans, (b) crisis loans and (c) community care grants and the actual average clearance times achieved in each of the years for which information is available; and if he will provide a breakdown by region.

    Mr. Scott
    Performance targets and clearance of social fund applications are a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

    Mortgage Interest Payments
    Ms. Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will change the procedures of his Department in respect of mortgage interest payments, so that mortgage lenders receive payments by the due date, instead of one month in arrears to prevent mortgagors being threatened with repossession.

    Mr. Burt
    The Council of Mortgage Lenders gave an assurance last December that lenders would not seek possession if the mortgage interest due was paid direct from income support. The present direct payment scheme began on 25 May.

    Mortgage payments are usually made at the end of each calendar monthly period. Similarly, the direct payment of the income mortgage interest allowance is made to lenders at the end of each four-weekly period. While the payment date may be changed, that of itself would not have the adverse effect suggested. Consequently, we see no reason to change the procedures.

    Priority Groups
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure greater consistency within and between local DSS offices in the treatment of priority groups.

    Mr. Scott
    Social fund officers are already provided with a framework of directions and guidance which allows them to meet highest priority needs whenever they occur. Copies are available in the Library.

  HEALTH

    HIV Statistics
    Mr. Cummings
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been(a) tested and (b) proven to be HIV positive in the Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool health authority areas in each year since 1988–89.

    Mr. Sackville
    Records are not routinely kept by district health authorities of the total numbers of people tested for HIV and a detailed breakdown is therefore not available. In respect of Hartlepool, Sunderland, Durham, North West Durham and South West Durham health authorities, 23 individuals have been reported as infected with HIV to the Public Health Laboratory Service's communicable disease surveillance centre since April 1988; 14 of these were in the 12 months to March 1992. The AIDS (Control) Act provides that where the number of newly infected HIV persons is fewer than 10 the district health authority is not required to provide numbers.

    Ischaemic Heart Disease (410-414)

    1987 deaths

    1988 deaths

    1989 deaths

    1990 deaths

    1991 deaths

    North East Thames RHA

    Male

    5,881

    5,538

    5,401

    5,225

    5,341

    Female

    4,426

    4,404

    4,233

    4,193

    4,234

    F01 Basildon and Thurrock

    Male

    429

    392

    382

    366

    412

    Female

    263

    293

    296

    258

    272

    F02 Mid Essex

    Male

    403

    371

    381

    393

    355

    Female

    285

    288

    248

    265

    266

    F03 North East Essex

    Male

    602

    578

    522

    500

    559

    Female

    451

    459

    436

    454

    470

    F04 West Essex

    Male

    360

    371

    342

    328

    413

    Female

    269

    279

    246

    75

    262

    F05 Southend

    Male

    553

    514

    516

    464

    462

    Female

    445

    437

    397

    377

    415

    F06 Barking, Havering and Brentwood

    Male

    761

    688

    751

    729

    742

    Female

    559

    538

    573

    576

    564

    F07 Hampstead

    Male

    148

    133

    117

    104

    125

    Female

    119

    104

    108

    114

    111

    F08 Bloomsbury

    Male

    206

    193

    210

    166

    281

    Female

    144

    134

    142

    155

    247

    F09 Islington

    Male

    218

    221

    227

    202

    1—

    Female

    181

    187

    158

    161

    1—

    F10 City and Hackney

    Male

    245

    251

    216

    251

    231

    Female

    211

    187

    195

    185

    197

    F11 Newham

    Male

    336

    282

    296

    270

    283

    Female

    220

    239

    210

    203

    227

    F12 Tower Hamlets

    Male

    266

    243

    240

    222

    211

    Female

    193

    181

    164

    141

    160

    F13 Enfield

    Male

    397

    382

    355

    341

    333

    Female

    315

    308

    289

    298

    318

    F14 Haringey

    Male

    267

    239

    227

    240

    230

    Female

    240

    224

    219

    196

    199

    F15 Redbridge

    Male

    384

    323

    324

    346

    382

    Female

    248

    286

    266

    304

    228

    Heart Disease
    Mr. Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what form figures exist for the incidence of coronary heart disease broken down to local authority districts or wards; and if she will publish the number of cases for both men and women in each local authority district or ward over the past five years.

    Mr. Sackville
    This information is not collected centrally.

    Mr. Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the number of cases of coronary heart disease for both men and women for each health district within the North East Thames region over the past five years.

    Mr. Sackville
    Information on the incidence of heart disease in the community is not available centrally. The table shows the numbers of deaths for ischaemic heart disease in each health authority in the North East Thames region. Due to boundary changes in 1991, figures for Islington are no longer available separately.
    601

    1987 deaths

    1988 deaths

    1989 deaths

    1990 deaths

    1991 deaths

    F16 Waltham Forest

    Male

    306

    357

    295

    303

    322

    Female

    283

    260

    286

    231

    298

    1 Please note there were certain boundary changes in 1991 to Bloomsbury and Islington.

    Source: OPCS Death Registrations.

    Mr. Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list in rank order the incidence of coronary heart disease, as a percentage of the male and female population, of each health district in the North East Thames region; and if she will break down these figures to local authority districts or wards.

    Estimated percentage of deaths by cause and by sex 1987 to 1991

    Ischaemic heart disease (410-414)

    1987 Per cent. of deaths

    1988 Per cent. of deaths

    1989 Per cent. of deaths

    1990 Per cent. of deaths

    1991 Per cent. of deaths

    North East Thames RHA

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F01 Basildon and Thurrock

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F02 Mid Essex

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F03 North East Essex

    Male

    0.4

    0.4

    0.3

    0.3

    0.4

    Female

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    F04 West Essex

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F05 Southend

    Male

    0.4

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F06 Barking, Havering and Brentwood

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.3

    0.2

    F07 Hampstead

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F08 Bloomsbury

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.4

    0.3

    1—

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    1—

    F09 Islington

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    1—

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    1—

    F10 City and Hackney

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    0.3

    0.2

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F11 Newham

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F12 Tower Hamlets

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F13 Enfield

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F14 Haringey

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.2

    0.3

    0.2

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    F15 Redbridge

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.2

    0.2

    0.2

    0.3

    0.2

    F16 Waltham Forest

    Male

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    0.3

    Female

    0.3

    0.2

    0.3

    0.2

    0.3

    Please note 1991 figures based on 1990's populations.

    1 Due to boundary changes in Bloomsbury and Islington Health Authorities the rates cannot be calculated for 1991.
    602
    Mr. Sackville
    The information is not available precisely in the form requested. The table shows the death rate per head of population for each district in North East Thames regional health authority. Figures on incidence within the community are not collected centrally.

    Maternity Services
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions she has reached as a result of her review of maternity services; and what steps she has so far taken to implement those conclusions.

    Dr. Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will be responding to the report of the Health Select Committee on maternity services, second report, Session 1991–92.

    Mr. Sackville
    I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 22 May at column 306.

    Abortion
    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress of the research commissioned by her Department into the effects of post-abortion trauma.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    The Department funded a major study by the Manchester research unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners into the long and short-term sequelae of abortion. The study ran from 1976 to the end of 1990. A number of papers have been either published or are in the public arena having been presented through conferences. Only one of these papers, that on the psychiatric sequelae of abortion, addressed the effects of post-abortion trauma. The paper was presented to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of General Practitioners on 7 November 1990. The final conclusions of this part of the study are expected to be published later this year.

    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department is conducting as to the stage of development at which the unborn child experiences pain; what steps she is taking to reduce the level of pain experienced by an unborn child which is aborted; and if she will make a statement.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    The Department is not currently supporting any such research. The abortion procedure is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned in discussion with the patient.

    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service abortions have been performed in each year for the last 10 years; and how many applications for national health service abortions have been refused over the same period.

    Mr. Sackville
    The number of abortions performed in the National Health Service in England, Wales and Scotland in each of the last 10 years for which full figures are available is shown in the table. Information on the number of applications for an NHS abortion which were refused is not available centrally.

    Number of National Health Service abortions England, Wales and Scotland 1981–1990

    Year

    Number of NHS abortions1

    1981

    72,430

    1982

    75,144

    1983

    75,694

    604

    Year

    Number of NHS abortions1

    1984

    78,776

    1985

    80,168

    1986

    83,800

    1987

    86,828

    1988

    88,439

    1989

    89,980

    1990

    93,312

    1 These figures include those abortions carried out in England and Wales under an agency agreement (operations carried out in non-NHS premises on NHS patients).

    Hospital Assaults
    Mr. Colvin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospitals where(a) staff and (b) patients have been assaulted by either patients or members of the general public in the last six months; and if she will provide the statistics of these assaults.

    Mr. Sackville
    This information is not available centrally.

    Limbless Ex-Service Men
    Mr. Colvin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will meet members of the British Limbless Ex-Sevicemen's Association to discuss her Department's guidance on priority treatment for their disabilities.

    Mr. Yeo
    We have no plans to meet members of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association at present.

    Hospitals
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) hospitals have been closed, (b) beds have been closed, (c) hospitals have been opened and (d) beds have been opened, since 1979.

    Mr. Sackville
    Information is not available centrally in the form requested.

    Smear Tests
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the time between a smear test taking place and the result being given to the patient.

    Mr. Sackville
    Health authorities have made significant progress in ensuring that women receive the results of a smear test within the national one month target. At December 1990, around two thirds were meeting the target, by December 1991 more than 96 per cent. of health authorities were reporting cervical smear results within one month or less. We expect regional health authorities to monitor the performance of districts to ensure this high level of performance continues.

    NHS Trust Federation
    Mr. Waterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the relative roles of the National Health Service Trust Federation and regional health authorities.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    The National Health Service Trust Federation is a body set up by the trusts themselves to represent them. It has no statutory role.
    605
    Regional health authorities are statutory bodies which have a key strategic role in the management structure of the reformed NHS. They are the Government's agents for managing change and for ensuring the implementation of the Government's policies on health.

    District Health Authorities
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each major type of service and treatment provided by the national health service and indicate which of these services are provided by all district health authorities.

    Mr. Sackville
    It is the responsibility of each district health authority to secure a comprehensive range of services for their resident population based on a local assessment of their health needs. A list of the services provided by each of the authorities for their resident population is not held centrally.

    NHS Spending
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current level of annual NHS spending as a proportion of gross domestic product excluding capital receipts from the disposal of NHS properties.

    Mr. Sackville
    Total United Kingdom national health service spending is estimated at 5.8 per cent. of gross domestic product for 1992–93. Excluding capital receipts the figure is estimated to be 5.7 per cent.

    Human Growth Hormone
    Miss Emma Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make it her policy to continue Department of Health funding for a specialist counsellor at the Institue for Child Health for those suffering from Creutzfeld-Jakob disease;

    (2) what measures she intends to take to ensure that former recipients of human growth hormone treatment will be able to obtain life assurance;

    (3) whether all people who were injected with human growth hormone treatments have been contacted and made aware of the possible implications of contaminated treatment.

    Mr. Yeo
    In the United Kingdom and Eire 1,910 patients were treated with pituitary derived human growth hormone between 1959 and 1985 when the link with Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease—CJD—was discovered. Action taken to trace these patients has revealed that 1,777 are still alive. Of these, 1,689 are believed to be currently resident in Great Britain of whom some 1,580—over 90 per cent.—have been linked to a general practitioner's list. Efforts continue to trace the remaining patients and separate arrangements have been put in hand for tracing patients resident in Northern Ireland and Eire.

    In June 1991 the Department funded a trial by the Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital of arrangements for notifying and counselling these patients on the risk of CJD, in consultation with their general practitioner. Regional health authorities have agreed to adopt similar procedures in notifying and counselling the remaining patients resident in their regions. The counsellors used by the regional health authorities will be trained at the Institute of Child Health.
    606
    Central funding has been extended for this purpose and to enable the Institute to continue to investigate the health and welfare needs of these patients.

    By now we estimate that some 500 patients have been notified and offered counselling. We have asked for reports on the progress of the counselling programme. If these indicate that obtaining life assurance is a problem, we will consider an approach to the industry.

    Residential Care
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will institute a policy requiring the constant availability of beds in nursing homes for people in(a) local auhtority residential homes and (b) private residential homes.

    Mr. Yeo
    No. Forcing either local authorities or private home owners to keep beds empty as suggested would neither serve the interests of prospective residents nor be an efficient use of resources.

    Greenwich Healthcare Trust
    Mr. Austin-Walker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will defer any decision on the Greenwich Healthcare Trust application until after the consultation on the acute services strategy for the Greenwich health district has been completed;

    (2) if she will defer any decision on the Greenwich Healthcare Trust application until the long-term future of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital is known:

    (3) if she will publish the business plan for the Greenwich Healthcare Trust when she receives it.

    (4) if she will make it her policy to disclose any advice or comments which she receives from the South East Thames regional health authority on the Greenwich Healthcare Trust application.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    In reaching a decision on whether to grant trust status to Greenwich Healthcare, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will take into account the outcome of consultation on all of the relevant issues surrounding the trust application. Requests for copies of responses to consultation on the trust application should be directed to the South East Thames regional health authority. It is not our policy to publish confidential advice from regional health authorities to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. With effect from 1993–94, all established trusts will publish their annual business plans. Financial summaries produced by potential trusts are confidential. It is for the trust project team to decide whether to publish these summaries.

    NHS Trusts
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role her Department plays in the appointment of chief executives or general managers of national health service trusts; and what role is played by the region and the district health authority.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    Regions, as co-ordinators of regional trust development programmes, are closely involved in assessing the leadership and management of proposed trusts and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, considers carefully the views of regions and districts. The appointment of chief executives of NHS trusts is a matter for the chairman and non-executives of each trust.
    607
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department gives about the reappointment of chief executives or general managers of hospitals to those positions when they become national health service trusts; and what information she has on how many have done so.

    Dr. Mawhinney
    The chief executive of a trust is appointed by the chairman and non-executive directors. All chief executive posts must be advertised except where the trust's project manager is appointed. The hon. Member may wish to approach trust chairmen for the additional information he requires.

    Jennifer Bennett
    Mr. Corbett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to written representations from the Matthew Trust sent on 14 April concerning the disclosure of Miss Jennifer Bennett's identity and medical records to the press.

    Mr. Sackville
    We are investigating the issues raised by the Matthew Trust and will send a response as soon as possible.

  ARSONISTS: SENTENCES
  ARSONISTS: SENTENCES
  PRISONERS: PAYMENTS SCHEME
  PRISONERS: PAYMENTS SCHEME
  HEVENINGHAM HALL
  HEVENINGHAM HALL
  MAXWELL COMPANIES: PENSIONS
  MAXWELL COMPANIES: PENSIONS
  DANGEROUS SEA CARGOES: EC DIRECTIVE PROPOSAL
  DANGEROUS SEA CARGOES: EC DIRECTIVE PROPOSAL
  MILK MARKETING BOARDS: FUTURE STATUS
  MILK MARKETING BOARDS: FUTURE STATUS